October 2020 an edition of the Long Beach Post lbbusinessjournal.com ‘THE BRIDGE‘THE BRIDGE TO TO EVERYWHERE’EVERYWHERE’

Inside: • The full history of how we got here (Pg. 18) • The new bridge by the numbers (Pg. 21) • The economic impact of the new bridge (Pg. 20)

Long Beach Business Journal PRSRT STD 211 E. Ocean Blvd., Ste. 400 U.S. POSTAGE Long Beach, CA 90802 PAID www.lbbusinessjournal.com Los Angeles, CA PERMIT NO. 447 NEWSWATCH 2 • Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020

Education District 2 race. In the March Correction 3 primary election, Tonia Reyes Uranga The September 2020 issue of the Long received 42.61% of the vote, Erik Miller Beach Business Journal contained an er- received 36.48% of the vote, and John Vol. XXXIII No. 09 • October 2020 ror in a story about the LBUSD Board of Mathews received 20.92% of the vote. PUBLISHER The Long Beach Business Journal is a David Sommers publication of Pacific Community Media. The journal premiered in 1987 as the Bake a pizza or do your laundry at Howard’s MANAGING EDITOR Long Beach Airport Business Journal. Melissa Evans The Business Journal is published every Appliances’ new Marina Pacifica store 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 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EDITOR are not necessarily the views of the Long Stephanie Rivera Beach Business Journal.

SENIOR REPORTER & PHOTOGRAPHER ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL DEADLINES Brandon Richardson Ads: Tuesday prior to publication. Press releases: two weeks prior to SENIOR REPORTER publication. E-mail press releases to Alena Maschke [email protected]. The editorial calendar is available at lbbusinessjournal.com. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kathy Genovese, chief operating officer for Howard’s, walks through the new appliance store in Springwave Studios Long Beach. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova. The pandemic has made the process of PUBLISHER EMERITUS LONG BEACH BUSINESS JOURNAL By ALENA MASCHKE George Economides 211 E. Ocean Blvd., Ste. 400 Senior Reporter opening a new store more difficult, in part Long Beach, CA 90802 because of new safety requirements and de- News tips: (562) 437-5814 The growing retail landscape of East lays at city hall, Howard’s chief operating Follow us Advertising: (562) 912-0161 Long Beach has been joined by a new mem- officer Kathy Genovese said. @LongBeachBusinessJournal Editorial: [email protected] ber catering to an upscale clientele: How- As a result, the new store doesn’t yet of- Advertising: [email protected] ard’s Appliances. fer the full experience. A coffee bar featur- Follow us @LBBizJourn After picking up groceries at Whole ing products by luxury appliance company SUBSCRIPTIONS: Foods or Gelson’s, shoppers visiting the cor- Fisher & Paykel, for example, still sits idle To subscribe, please call (562)912-0161 ner of 2nd and Pacific Coast Highway can near the entrance. But the location has per- Follow us @LBBusinessJournal or visit lbbusinessjournal.com/subscribe now admire—and try out—smart fridges, formed surprisingly well since its Labor Day barista-worthy coffee machines, the latest in opening, Riddle said. lbbusinessjournal.com washers and dryers and even a osteria-style “In the first week, the store jumped up pizza oven at the Southern California chain’s into our Top 5,” the CEO noted. newest location. Howard’s has not spared any cost in Once gatherings are safe and permitted setting up its new Long Beach location. Ac- again, the company hopes to use its built- cording to Riddle, the company spent $1.7 MONDAY out kitchen and entertainment environments million on the 22,000 square-foot store. In for live events, for example inviting chefs to return, the company expects annual reve- MORNING cook using the for-sale appliances. nues of $10-$15 million. Formerly located in Signal Hill, How- While the pandemic has created new COFFEE and ard’s has moved its Long Beach area store to hurdles for retailers, Riddle said being the Marina Pacifica shopping center, where cooped up at home has led many to use their BIZBRIEF it fills the spot left vacant by Sports Author- appliances more—and consider an upgrade ity after the company’s sale to Dick’s Sport- or replacement. ing Goods in 2016. Sign up at lbbusinessjournal.com for MONDAY MORNING COFFEE and “Our products are products that really BIZBRIEF, FREE email subscriptions about issues, events and meetings for “We wanted something unique and dif- serve an opportunity for a person to have a the week. Monday Morning Coffee is sent out at 6 a.m., and BizBrief is news of ferent,” Howard’s CEO John Riddle said more pleasant experience in their house,” he the day, sent out periodically around 4 p.m. weekdays as needed. about the new store, which seeks to offer a noted. “It’s been an amazing growth oppor- hands-on shopping experience. “We thought tunity for the home appliance industry.” this would be the perfect location to do that.”

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www.LBCC.edu NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 3

Record stores still spinning from pandemic but sales are trending up

Mike Colon, 43, right, a Redondo Beach resident, checks out the find of Ted Gomez, 48, a Los Angeles resident, at Third Eye Records on Retro Row in Long Beach. Photo by Brandon Richardson.

By BRANDON RICHARDSON air. If history has a smell, this is it. ing for something—something—that ential. Growing up, there was always Senior Reporter Music resonates throughout the store, catches their eye or perhaps a specif- a communal aspect to listening to new washing over the bin-diving clientele. ic album they have sought for days, records—you go to your friend’s house, The must of thousands of slowly Masked and gloved, the audiophiles months, years. you sit and listen together,” said Rand decaying record jackets hangs in the search row after row of vinyl, search- “Records have always been experi- Foster, owner of Fingerprints Music in Downtown Long Beach. “And we’re an experience-based business.” When coronavirus struck, the re- cord store experience was muted. Many shops, Fingerprints included, quickly altered their business models and created online stores to make up for the loss of in-person shopping. But it is not the same as the search, the journey, Foster said. From Jan. 1 through March 12, to- tal album sales were down 6.7% over the same period last year, according to a midyear report from Nielsen Music and MRC Data. The decrease is due to a major decline in digital album sales—down nearly 25%. Physical al- bum sales on the other hand were up 4.6%. Enter COVID-19. From March 13 to July 2, total album sales plummet- ed more than 25%. As of July 2, year- to-date album sales were down just over 18%, with physical sales down more than 20%. While this trend has been a major hit to the music industry Audiophiles bin dive at Fingerprints Music in Downtown Long Beach. Photo by Brandon Richardson. (Please Continue to Page 4) NEWSWATCH 4 • Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020

Kelli Drum, 46, left, and Ben Rehling, 46, a married couple from Garden Grove, browse the bins at Fingerprints Music in Downtown Long Beach. Photo by Brandon Richardson.

(Continued from Page 3) new music is a must, he added. of brand new vinyl that supplements tooled quickly and put up an online as a whole, vinyl sales have actual- Third Eye Records owner Gary times when the stream of incoming store to move records while the store ly increased 11.2%, from 8.3 million Farley first opened his shop about a used records slows; the downside is was closed to the public. in 2019 to 9.2 million already sold in decade ago. He said that during his the amount of shelf space dedicated to “The pandemic forced us to rethink 2020. years in the vinyl game, he has never reissues, meaning less space for used and, fortunately, we were able to adapt For the first time since 1986—34 seen the amount of reissued records inventory, which has a higher profit fairly quickly. It’s another stream years—vinyl record sales are outpac- than he has the last several years. margin for stores. of revenue to access when we’re not ing CD sales in the U.S. During the The plus side is a continuous stream Like Fingerprints, Third Eye re- open,” Farley said. “That really saved first six months of 2020, vinyl records accounted for $232.1 million of music sales, whereas CDs brought in $129.9 million, according to a report by the Recording Industry Association of America. While the vinyl record world is booming, Foster said he has had a rough couple of years—caused in part by construction of Linden apartments next door—which had sales down 20- 25%, and the onset of the pandemic did not help. “We came into COVID very under- capitalized, very unprepared and with- out a whole lot of help,” he said. “So there was a lot of times when I thought, ‘Well, this might be the end of it.’” Fingerprints celebrated its 20th an- niversary in early July. It was closed for business. Since reopening in July, Foster said business has been robust. He expects that, since record stores are as much about the shopping experience as they are about the product, that the pent up demand to bin dive was strong. Also, with people staying home more often, Ted Gomez, 48, a Los Angeles resident, peruses the record selection at Fingerprints Music in Downtown Long Beach. Photo by Brandon Richardson. NEWSWATCH NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 5 Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 5 us. We were also doing local deliver- Hector Waluyo is the latest addition ies—it got me out of the house, not to Long Beach’s bustling record store thinking about what was happening scene. He opened his shop, Twelves and having some interaction.” Records, almost one year ago, just Despite the pandemic, Farley said months before the pandemic shut him his sales this year are on track to sur- down. pass 2019, due to the addition of the “The first year of business is al- online store and the fact that the busi- ways full of learning and trials and ness is running more efficiently than errors but this year took the cake— ever. this is gonna be in the history books,” Justin “Dex” Dexter, owner of Dex Waluyo said. “It’s like on steroids. I’ve Records, was a bit more nonchalant learned things every day and need to when the pandemic struck. He did not adapt every week.” scramble to set up an online store, opt- About 90% of Twelve’s stock is used ing instead to let the chips fall where and the business model was centered they may. on in-store shopping with no plans for “We’re all in the same boat and an online presence outside of social there’s nothing we can do about it,” media. During the months of forced Dexter said. “My philosophy is [stuff] closures, Waluyo altered his strategy happens and you just gotta roll with it.” by posting specific records for sale on That is not to say Dexter did not Instagram, first-come, first-served, have very real concerns in the first few with free shipping and payments made months of the pandemic. Fortunately, digitally. He said the online shift al- he was able to reach an understand- lowed him to reach a customer base ing with his landlord that allowed him outside the city, even in other states. to make ends meet. Since reopening, When curbside pickup became Dexter said business has been boom- an option for retailers, Waluyo opted ing but with the months he was closed, to keep the store closed. Since retail- he’s not sure how his 2020 sales will ers were allowed to open for in-store compare to last year. shopping, Waluyo shifted his busi- Dexter said his greatest challenge ness model again—the shop is open now is keeping his store stocked. He Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays by depends heavily on purchasing re- appointment only, limited to four cus- cords, sometimes entire collections, tomers at a time for one hour. For now, from people at their homes or at the he said the model is working well. store, a practice that has become diffi- “At first, everybody was very fear- cult in the era of COVID-19. All record ful because nobody knew what was go- stores receive their used inventory ing to happen. But we’re still alive and from the general public—estate sales, kicking, still buying records and … people bringing portions of or entire able to pay the rent,” Waluyo said. “It’s collections to the store—and pay bulk really just thanks to the whole music prices, which results in the higher community. It’s been awesome.” profit margin for used vinyl.

Mike Colon, 43, a Redondo Beach resident, leaves Third Eye Records on Retro Row after pur- chasing an album. Photo by Brandon Richardson. NEWSWATCH 6 • Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 ‘Antonio’s mission’: Long Beach hairstylist uplifts women and children at local shelter

Antonio Francisco Gonzales, founder of social enterprise AFG Hair Studio, has partnered with 1736 Family Crisis Center to sponsor 31 children with clothing and other items. Photo by Brandon Richardson.

By BRANDON RICHARDSON sort of alone.” was not Gonzales’ first foray into his revenue to shelters. Senior Reporter The hardships he faced in Miami philanthropy. While in New York, he In February, Gonzales and his hus- Beach, as it turns out, had a silver set himself up as a social enterprise, band, Padrick Gleason, moved to Long For about two decades, Anto- lining: Gonzales found a new pas- AFG Hair Studio, donating 3% of all Beach. He began renting chairs in local nio Francisco Gonzales has been in sion—serving his community face- the business of hair, specializing in to-face, particularly the underserved, high-profile women’s cuts, color and unhoused population. styling. Originally from Trinidad and “Someone suggested that I show Tobago, he studied his craft in the San up for someone else… and I started Fernando Valley in the late ’90s, honed volunteering at a hospital, being there his skills in New York City, took his for people,” Gonzales said. “It allowed talents to Miami Beach and finally me to not think about myself. When ended up in Long Beach this year. you’re depressed, the only thing you In New York, Gonzales, 48, found think about is yourself—so much pain himself in salons catering to celebri- and loneliness.” ties and celebrity-adjacent clients. He Gonzales quickly realized he could worked numerous fashion weeks and use his passion for hair to help women landed a gig at the Victoria’s Secret in need, including those with unstable Fashion Show. He moved from New living situations and survivors of do- York to Miami Beach for a change of mestic abuse and sex trafficking. He pace but the transition backfired and said that when it comes to assisting quickly led to what he described as a people who find themselves living in nervous breakdown. those circumstances, self-care such as “I was… living this lifestyle that haircuts often go by the wayside but was beyond my means. It quickly that such care can go a long way in brought me to my knees—I started making people feel more like them- couch surfing,” Gonzales said. “I was selves—to feel seen. Hairdresser Antonio Francisco Gonzales set up his business as a social enterprise and donates unable to work and found myself just Cutting the hair of those in need 3% of all revenue to local shelters such as the 1736 Family Crisis Center. Photo by Brandon Richardson. NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 7 salons and continued his social enter- prise donations. But he wanted to con- tinue his physical philanthropic work Welcome back shoppers: Lakewood, and connected with the 1736 Family Crisis Center in Torrance, a nonprof- Stonewood and Cerritos malls reopen it shelter for domestic violence sur- By ALENA MASCHKE ready been allowed to reopen, in accor- trostatic disinfectant sprayers and “hos- vivors, runaway and homeless youth, Senior Reporter dance with state health orders, while pital-grade filters” in the centers’ air-con- low-income people and those in crisis. stores located inside the centers had been ditioning systems will be employed to Gonzales made two trips to the The Lakewood Center, the Stonewood mandated to remain closed. “make sure guests and employees feel center to give free haircuts before Center in Downey and the Los Cerritos “We are looking forward to seeing comfortable and at ease with the return COVID-19 struck, after which he Center reopened their indoor spaces on our retail partners and welcoming local to business,” according to the release. could no longer visit. Undeterred, he Wednesday, Oct. 7, the owner and oper- shoppers back,” a press release by owner Retailers expect holiday shopping ac- reached out to program coordinator ator of the shopping centers announced. and operator Macerich read. “More than tivity to start early this year, the release Michele Nadeau to see how he could Indoor malls, together with oth- ever, people are ready to safely get back stated further. “All of us are committed support the shelter from afar. Now, er businesses like nail salons and card to the places and activities they’ve been to ensuring our property can get back to Gonzales is collecting donations of rooms, have been allowed to reopen on a missing and we are excited to be a big making major contributions to our local new clothes for 31 children and their staggered timeline since Sept. 30. part of this.” economy through jobs, sales taxes and mothers as well as noise-canceling Some outside-facing stores had al- Enhanced cleaning protocols, elec- more.” headphones for children to use at the shelter during virtual learning. “With school starting, that was a big driving factor in wanting to make sure our kids have what they need to be successful,” Nadeau said. “It was our increased need—a lot of times kids need clothes and things like that, so he’s been taking wishlists and pass- ing those on. It’s been awesome.” Gonzales received the name, age, clothing size and favorite color for each of the children at the shelter and is finding sponsors to purchase $75- $150 worth of items for them. He said he is still seeking sponsors for some children but that the overall response has been very positive. Nadeau said the pandemic has add- ed another layer of difficulty to pro- viding services for people at the shel- ter, which requires a hefty amount of community outreach. She explained that Gonzales stepping up amid the chaos has heartened her. Long Beach resident Angelina Nader said she has been friends with Gonzales for a long time and has served the LA County community by his side several times in the past. She has sponsored multiple children as part of his latest effort. “In light of… everything that’s happening in the world, it’s important to make sure everybody has equal op- portunity. There’s already this divide,” Nader said. “We can bridge that gap and I know that is Antonio’s mission.” When the world returns to some semblance of normal and he has the funding, Gonzales said he hopes to open his own salon in Long Beach to continue his social enterprise work. “I love living in Long Beach,” he said. “It’s an incredible community.” While he plans to continue and ex- pand his other philanthropic endeav- ors, Gonzales said he cannot wait until he is able to once again visit the shelter and reunite his two passions. “Working with families, especial- ly single mothers and children has been really impactful for me,” Gon- zales said. “I am at my strongest and most fearless when I am in the shelter, talking to women, relating to them and connecting, helping them feel beauti- ful from the inside out. They are my heroes.” NEWSWATCH 8 • Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020

‘This is not the end’: City pilot program provides experience and support for unhoused residents

Blanca Diaz, left, Willow Springs Park manager with the Long Beach Office of Sustainability, Steffz Warren, 61, clears dry brush at Willow Springs Park as part of the city’s PACE program. explains to Steffz, a PACE program participant, which vegetation to remove. Photo by Brandon Photo by Brandon Richardson. Richardson.

By BRANDON RICHARDSON shelter to shelter. years, she has worked multiple jobs but her supportive services, staff supervision, tools Senior Reporter Warren, 61, a long-time Long Beach ever-changing circumstances, along with and materials, case managers and job devel- resident, found herself without a home af- personal tragedies, have made maintaining opment staff, Serrato noted. For more than a decade, Steffz War- ter being terminated from her government a job difficult. Warren was referred to the program by a ren has had an unstable living situation— job of 17 years because of another employ- “You never know what someone is go- staff member of the Long Beach Multi-Ser- bouncing from shared housing to shelter to ee who she described as a bully. Over the ing through,” Warren said. “I don’t believe vice Center. She was accepted into the pilot in saying ‘homeless’ because the general and has been working with her cohort and consensus is that you’re lazy, you’re nasty, city staff at Willow Springs Park near Sig- you don’t work, you eat out of trash cans— nal Hill, maintaining the wetlands. there are a lot of people out there that are “I’m being active. I’m doing something functioning. They’re not what society per- that’s productive,” Warren said. “This work ceives ‘homeless’ to be.” may not be my background but sometimes In fall 2019, Pacific Gateway was it’s OK to step out of your comfort zone, see awarded $300,000 from the Long Beach other things.” Department of Health and Human Services While the program does not pay Warren to develop an employment program to assist enough to afford a stable living situation, those, like Warren, who find themselves un- she said it has solidified her determination housed and in need of assistance to get back to move forward and improve her situation. on track. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 The pilot is set to end Dec. 31, at which pandemic, the subsequent pilot program, point Pacific Gateway staff will study dubbed Pathways Advancing to City Em- the program’s effectiveness to determine ployment, or PACE, commenced this sum- whether it is sustainable. mer. “The ultimate indicators are retention: The pilot was designed to serve 30 peo- Were the individuals able to complete the ple in need: 15 to work with city staff and 15 work hours despite their challenges and to be placed with private companies or non- why?” Serrato said. “And placement: Af- profits. The level of each participant’s need ter the program, are the participants work- determines which group they are placed. ready and able to transition to other employ- “Perhaps the greatest challenge for indi- ment?” viduals who have been unhoused for some If the pilot proves successful, Serrato time or are long-term unemployed is the said the expanded program would include opportunity to re-enter the workforce and additional worksites, such as Sunnyside build up job skills and even basic experi- Cemetery and Long Beach Animal Care ence of the work environment,” said Erick Services. With additional sites, participants Serrato, assistant executive director of Pa- could be placed where the work experience cific Gateway. “This program takes a digni- would be most meaningful and gratifying, ty-first approach.” personalizing the program. The program is meant to provide em- Once the pilot program is over, Warren ployment skills to participants and connect said she hopes to enter the nonprofit sector them to job opportunities with the city or in to assist those in need. She said she is most the general job market. About a dozen spots passionate about feeding the hungry, se- still available in the pilot are expected to be niors, literacy and, as a self-described Air filled by Oct. 31, according to a city memo. Force brat, veterans. Each participant will work an average of “I really want to be involved in those 310 hours, earning $15 per hour, for a total types of things,” Warren said. “I want to of $4,650. In addition to providing partic- continue to be able to let people see that ipants with wages, the program supports this is not the end. Never give up and al- transportation and food costs, insurance, ways be willing to try something new.” NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 9

Tattoo shop owners sue governor and two state health officials for the right to open By BRANDON RICHARDSON Senior Reporter

Three Los Angeles County tattoo shop owners, including one in Long Beach, filed a lawsuit against Gov. Gavin Newsom and two state health officials over the ongoing closure mandate imposed on the industry. “We feel like we’re being discriminat- ed against,” said Tom Moser, owner of Port City Tattoo in Long Beach. “I’m under the impression that they’ve kind of put us to the side because we don’t have a big lobbying group in Sacramento. We don’t have enough people up there pressing them on the issue.” Nail salons, card rooms and bars are the latest businesses to be permitted to reopen, as long as they follow strict guidelines such as limiting capacity. A spokesperson for the Long Beach Health Department said the decision is not theirs to make, referring questions to the state, which has established a tiered system for reopening that depends on each county’s positivity rate and the number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents. Los Angeles County remains in the most restrictive tier. A lawyer representing the state in the lawsuit did not respond to a request for com- ment. While the tattoo industry is hyper-fo- Tom Moser, owner of Port City Tattoo, works on cused on diseases that spread through the a customer at his Costa Mesa location. His Long blood, such as Hepatitis and HIV, Moser Beach location has been closed most of the year said the protocols should be more than suf- due to the coronavirus pandemic. Courtesy photo. ficient in the era of coronavirus. grown increasingly more frustrated after Since the onset of COVID-19, Tiffany being closed more than half of 2020. In Au- Mitchell, owner of Black Raven Tattoo in gust, Mikey Vigilante, owner of Paper Crane Torrance, said she has spent nearly $10,000 Studio in Long Beach, opened his shop for a to reconfigure, renovate and improve the day in protest of the state mandate—but no technology in her shop. During the brief customers were tattooed. time tattoo shops were allowed to operate Moser said he hopes the stigma often with additional health and safety guidelines, associated with tattoos and the people who Mitchell said she completely altered shop sport them is not a cause for shops remain- operations to ensure the safety of artists and ing shuttered. He said that when he asks customers. Long Beach officials why he can’t open, he Similar to other personal service busi- gets referred to the county, and when he asks nesses such as hair and nail salons, tattoo the county he gets referred to Long Beach. shops are highly regulated, particularly “Nobody’s been able to put me in touch when it comes to safety. The Safe Body Art with anybody that can give me any type of Act outlines all requirements to operate a information,” Moser said. “I get these gener- tattoo and piercing business. ic boilerplate COVID emails back.” At the best of times, sans pandem- Attorney Robert Moest is representing ics, tattoo shops must adhere to stringent Mitchell, Moser and Glenn West, owner of cleanliness protocols—personal protective Palace Art Tattoo in Thousand Oaks, in the equipment, single-use razors, approved dis- suit. Deputy Attorney General Maureen On- infectant solutions and keeping a log of each yeagbako is representing the state. sterilization cycle, among a slew of other Moest said the state is infringing on the specific requirements. First Amendment rights of those wanting to Outside of operational mandates, each tattoo and be tattooed. tattoo artist is required to register with the A hearing date has not been set. local enforcement agency annually. Along In the end, Moser and other shop own- with the registration application, each artist ers—along with their artists—just want to must show proof of completion of a coun- be able to open for business and create art ty-approved blood borne pathogens expo- during a chaotic year. sure control training and vaccination docu- “It’s a crazy time. Everybody is all mentation. worked up. People are depressed,” Moser Moser’s second Port City location in said. “With tattooing, there is a cathartic Costa Mesa, meanwhile, has been allowed feeling of the releasing of that pain. It helps to reopen, as Orange County is in a less re- mentally. It helps get people’s minds off of strictive tier. the day-to-day and … the feeling that there’s But LA County owners and artists have never going to be any type of normalcy.” NEWSWATCH 10 • Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 On the Job: The lonely mornings of a hotel barista

Jose Soto pours a cup of hot coffee for a guest at the Hyatt Centric in Long Beach. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.

By ALENA MASCHKE pre-dawn mist. ange juice. Cleaning has become a bit of an ob- Senior Reporter On a normal day, the hotel barista But working anywhere during a global session for him, Soto admits. At first, he would simply swipe his card at the em- pandemic feels far from normal, no less at would get frustrated with coworkers lean- It’s a chilly Monday morning by ployee entrance and start preparing the a hotel that’s lacking the one thing hotels ing on the counter. “How do I keep things Southern California standards, and José dining area for the morning rush of guests are all about: guests. clean when everyone’s always touching Soto, 32, waits behind the Hyatt Centric at demanding coffee, above all, along with So instead, Soto shuffles back and everything?” he asked. Now, he’s firm the Pike in Downtown Long Beach in the bagels, croissants and the occasional or- forth until finally the security guard on about asking his colleagues to keep a safe duty unlocks the gate, takes his tempera- distance. ture and allows him inside. On his way to But being without his team has been his work station, a newly installed coffee difficult for Soto. “The hardest part is bar adjacent to the hotel lobby, he passes being here by myself every morning, through an empty kitchen, where refillable not having anyone to talk to,” he said. containers of cereal and miniature jars of “There’s days when I just stand here and jam wait for their time to shine once again. no one passes me by.” For now, traditional breakfast service On this early Monday morning, a few has been suspended. His coworkers— guests stop by to grab coffee. Soto greets three other servers, a dishwasher and a them enthusiastically. “What can I get for chef—have been sent home, Soto said. you, brother?” he asks. “Do you like the The elegant, nautical-themed dining area hotel?” is empty: no sit down service, no cereal Originally from the Mexican state of dispensers, no salt and pepper shakers. Jalisco, Soto grew up in Compton and To kick off his shift, Soto wipes down South Gate, later moving to Long Beach every inch of counter space with disinfec- where he now owns a home. One day, he tant and dons a surgical mask provided by hopes to open his own coffee shop or a lit- the hotel over his personal, cloth mask. tle cart, from which to sell healthy meals “At least I know the one I have is clean. to low-income families. Maybe both, he It’s self-care—or something like that,” he said. said. For now, he’s using his entrepreneur- NEWSWATCH NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 11 Long Beach Business Journal •F OctoberOR L E2020AS •E 11 600 W. 15th Street, Long Beach

PROPERTY FEATURES: • 16,988 Square Feet • Well Appointed Offices. Jose Soto serves a hotel guest his morning cup of coffee at the Hyatt Centric in Downtown Long Beach. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova. • Two Dock High Positions. . • Heavy Power. ial spirit to breathe life into the somewhat also felt disillusioned with his employer’s • Magnolia Industrial Area. ghostly atmosphere of the nearly empty response to the public health crisis, citing hotel. “You have to create sales, you have such issues as obtaining PPE at the be- • Near Port of Long Beach and 710 to create that energy that’s not there,” Soto ginning of the pandemic and the troubles Freeway. explained. faced by his colleagues who are currently • Close Proximity to Downtown. Having worked at the hotel for 11 out of work. To help them out, he has par- years, before it was bought by the Hyatt ticipated in several food drives organized LEASE RATE: $1.00 PSF, IG chain, Soto has held every position imag- by his union, Unite Here Local 11. inable. He went from dishwasher to room “We’re just trying to be there for each BILL TOWNSEND JASON PRICE service, refilling now-abolished minibars, other,” he said. As one of the few hotel D: (562) 296-1308 D: (562) 296-1318 before finally settling into his position as workers who still has a job to report to ev- [email protected] [email protected] a server. Over that decade-long career, ery day, Soto also expressed a sense of re- BRE Lic. 00908295 BRE Lic. 01980320 change has been ever-present and he is sponsibility for keeping the business alive. confident that the company will make it “We have to keep this going so there’s 6621 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 280, Long Beach, CA 90803 | 562.498.3395 | BRE#01359006 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 through the pandemic as well. something for people to do when they 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. But a die-hard union member, Soto has come back.” Don’t delay the care you need. Across our Southern California hospitals and care sites—from our emergency rooms to our Birth Centers—at Dignity Health, every step we take is toward healthier days. Cleaning is even more stringent and frequent. Seating is further spaced apart. And behind every mask you see is a friendly face. Because we think that safety should extend beyond sanitizing and distancing to include understanding and peace of mind. So if you need medical attention—even in an emergency—don’t delay getting the care you need at Dignity Health. Learn more about our safety protocols at dignityhealth.org/stmary. Or, select an estimated ER arrival time online at dignityhealth.org/ER. NEWSWATCH 12 • Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020

Inspired by iconic bird, new Long Beach apparel brand is making noise

Christopher Diaz is pictured in a shirt of his own design featuring a homage to Long Beach’s feral parrots. Photo by Brandon Richardson.

By BRANDON RICHARDSON a windbreaker, a pair of socks and, in true of East Los Angeles. When he was 5, his also recently accepted to a master’s program Senior Reporter coronavirus-era fashion, a face mask. family—his mother and two older sisters— for integrated design, business and technol- Diaz purchases blank apparel from a moved to Long Beach, where he has stayed ogy at USC. The mitred parakeet is a staple of the company in LA, but he has his merchan- except for a couple years while attending Though juggling a full-time job, going Long Beach community, with flocks fre- dise printed at Overcast Design and Print, Otis College of Art and Design and a five- back to school and operating a new business quently spotted soaring over various neigh- a screen printing company located on Long year stint in Orange County while working is a challenge, Diaz said he is confident in his borhoods. The bright green birds with red Beach’s Westside. for Billabong. product. It doesn’t hurt that work and school faces—and the ruckus they cause—pushed “I’m proud to be from Long Beach. I Prior to attending Otis, where he ob- are currently also online, he added. graphic designer Christopher Diaz to launch wanted to bring business to the city,” Diaz tained a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, “Clothing is tough but I’ve got some a new clothing company aptly named said. “This brand is about pride for Long Diaz attended Long Beach City College. He original ideas and I’ve got some original Squawk. Beach, so I wanted to keep it here.” has recently returned to the community col- work,” Diaz said. “I think people are going “The parakeets are famous in Long The screen printer is still working with lege to take photography classes. Diaz was to love it.” Beach. They’re kind of an icon. So I was in- Diaz to bring his favorite design to life: a spired to create some cool shirts,” Diaz said. denim Hawaiian-style shirt with a parakeet “I wanted an original design that I would print. He said there are a couple other de- wear myself and I knew my friends would signs that have not yet been released. want to wear, and it just kind of escalated Squawk has quickly become a family from there.” endeavor, with Diaz enlisting his mother, The vision for a clothing company be- Arlene, and his sister Diane—who live to- gan to take shape for Diaz last year. While gether in a Long Beach house—to act as his the coronavirus pandemic has created new warehouse and distribution team. His full challenges for every facet of life, Diaz said it stock is folded, packaged and stored in their was the perfect opportunity to get his brand spare bedroom, and they handle the shipping off the ground. He still holds his day job as a of orders. graphic designer with Costa Mesa-based En- Diaz said he is happy with his life’s cur- Genius Technologies while creating designs rent trajectory and that he is optimistic about and managing Squawk during his off hours. the future of his brand but noted it was a long Diaz has done work for several major road to get to this point. apparel brands and retailers, including Bill- “This November will be my fifth year abong, Quicksilver, PacSun and Skechers. of sobriety. I used to drink a lot and I’m just Having designed for such prominent compa- grateful to be alive,” Diaz said. “I’ve been nies, Diaz said he felt ready to take on the through a lot. A lot of things have propelled industry on his own. me in this direction.” In September, Diaz officially launched Now 45 years old, Diaz was born and Christopher Diaz is pictured in a shirt of his own design featuring a homage to Long Beach’s feral his website with five shirt designs, a hoodie, grew up in the Boyle Heights neighborhood parrots. Photo by Brandon Richardson. NEWSWATCH NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 13 Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 13

Pandemic slows city’s efforts to prepare seismic safety database of buildings

By KELLY PUENTE safety database will help the city de- Staff Reporter cide how to move forward in retro- fitting some of the most vulnerable Long Beach is working to prepare buildings. a database that will catalog the seis- “Our approach has been very care- mic safety of roughly 3,000 build- ful, very methodical and very thor- ings, but the effort has been slower ough,” he said. this year due to the coronavirus pan- Some California cities—includ- demic, officials said. ing San Francisco, Santa Monica, The project comes as a 4.6 mag- Burbank, West Hollywood and Bev- nitude earthquake based in El Monte erly Hills—have moved forward with rattled the region Sept. 18 and was felt mandatory retrofit ordinances. Los in Long Beach and as far as Catalina. Angeles has had a mandatory retrofit The initial effort, which launched ordinance since 2015 that covers more last year, was estimated to take about than 15,000 buildings. two years to complete, but city offi- Long Beach had a mandatory ret- cials, including Mayor Robert Garcia rofit ordinance in the late 1990s that who, in a city council meeting in July covered more than 600 residential 2019, had urged staffers to work fast- structures built before 1934. The ef- er. fort, however, was problematic as In an interview this week, Devel- many property owners did not do the opment Services Director Oscar Orci necessary repairs and were subse- said the city had planned this year quently sued by the city. to begin building an inventory that Based on the database, Long would log the potential vulnerabil- Beach could consider a new type of ity of thousands of structures in the mandatory ordinance or some type of event of an earthquake. incentive program, but that will be up However, the process is still to the City Council, Orci said. in the planning phase because the Long Beach is the site of South- COVID-19 closures and health orders ern California’s deadliest earthquake, make it difficult for engineers to en- when in 1933 a 6.4 quake killed about ter some buildings, he said. 120 people and caused $40 million AVAILABLE PROPERTIES But the good news, Orci said, is damage. that the city is wrapping up the first Last year, a Harvard University 13115-13133 TELEGRAPH ROAD phase of the project that includes a study found that a fault line that runs SANTA FE SPRINGS • FOR SALE comprehensive report of what oth- deep under the ports of Los Angeles Owner/User or Investment Opportunity ±32,385 SF Industrial Warehouse er cities and counties have done for and Long Beach, called the Wilming- ±4,000 SF of Office • 8 Ground Level Doors similar databases. The City Council ton blind-thrust, is active and could Easily Divisible to 3 Units • Street Frontage is expected to review the report later potentially cause a large-scale quake. Convenient Access to Major Freeways ( this year or early next year and then The city offers several prepared- : Mark B. / Graham G. / Greg G. the city can start the inventory phase. ness resources on its website, includ- 530 EAST FOURTH STREET WALNUT AVE & 27TH STREET The project will take several ing an emergency planning guide and LONG BEACH • FOR SALE/LEASE LONG BEACH • FOR LEASE months to complete and will include tips to develop a family communica- engineers mapping and inspecting up tions plan. to 3,500 older buildings, including Residents also are encouraged to residential and commercial struc- sign-up for Alert Long Beach to re- tures. ceive emergency notifications. Orci said an extensive seismic ±8,000 SF Two-Story Brick Building Two Brand New Flex Buildings For Lease Perfect For Restaurant/Retail/Office/Event Use ±17,100 SF and ±7,300 SF • Zone CI Exposed Ceilings & Skylights/Opportunity Zone Est. 2Q21 Delivery • Great South Bay Location (: Sean L. / Graham G. / Noel A. (: Shaun McCullough / Jeff Coburn

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Long Beach zeroes in on hotel properties to convert into homeless housing

By ALENA MASCHKE Senior Reporter

During the pandemic, the state of California has found creative ways to find shelter for its unhoused residents in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. Through the state’s Project Homekey program, one of those temporary solu- tions may become more permanent. The city of Long Beach appears to have zeroed in on a hotel location to serve as long-term housing, according to a recent tweet by Mayor Robert Garcia. As part of Project Homekey, the state will partner with Long Beach on creating 150 new housing units for peo- ple experiencing homelessness, Garcia tweeted. That total consists of two sep- arate projects of 100 and 50 units each, according to the mayor. An extension of Project Roomkey, a program that temporarily housed oth- erwise homeless residents in local ho- A car drives by the City Center Motel in the East Village Arts District of Long Beach. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova. tels and motels across the state, Project Homekey provides partial funding for cities and counties to purchase hotel or In the meantime, “motels have be- of Long Beach, located at 1725 Long The deadline for cities and counties motel properties and convert them into come housing of last resort,” he said. Beach Blvd., would offer the number to acquire any properties to be support- longer-term supportive and transitional Motels operating in the gray zone be- of rooms cited by Garcia with regard to ed by state funding under Project Home- housing. tween housing visitors and offering the 100-room project. The hotel was not key is Dec. 30. Contracts are expected to last sev- semi-permanent residences often be- identified as a nuisance property during eral years and involve on-site services come a nuisance to the surrounding a 2018 pilot program. and modifications to make the facilities community, Koontz added. more suitable for their new purpose. Ninth District Councilman Rex These changes include creating desig- Richardson, who first brought the issue nated areas for supportive services and of nuisance motels to council in 2017, potential room modifications such as encouraged fellow councilmembers to adding kitchenettes. consider the current situation as an op- Looking to City leadership has long sought to portunity to address this long-standing address the issue of nuisance motels and issue. sell your business? hotels, with one proposal being a con- “I think now is the perfect time, We know a buyer: Your employees. version to supportive and transitional actually, to leverage some of the state housing. programs and figure out how we can ad- “We have a number of hotels in the dress some of the nuisance motels in our city, likely an oversupply of hotels in the city by converting them,” Richardson city, but what we have an undersupply said. of is housing,” Christopher Koontz, dep- The city has yet to announce the uty director for the City of Long Beach properties selected for its collaboration Development Services Department, told with the state, but councilmembers re- the council during a meeting in Septem- viewed a list of hotel and motel proper- ber. ties during a closed session on August According to Koontz, the city would 11. need 20,000 additional units to resolve Out of the seven properties includ- its housing shortage. ed on that list, only the Best Western

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By ALENA MASCHKE become more tech-reliant while the According to the company’s CEO, current situation is, it also presents Senior Reporter outside world was continuously shut Sam Polk, the company now delivers opportunities for some companies to down. 180,000 meals per week from its cen- bring new ideas, to innovate,” Mar- In many ways, Cal State Domin- “Our world’s definitely become tralized kitchen to locations across tinez said. guez Hills’ 2020 South Bay Economic smaller and the economy is reflecting LA County, marking a six-fold in- How quickly the region recovers Forecast and Industry Outlook paints that,” Fynnwinn Prager, co-director crease compared to pre-pandemic will be in part a result of local gov- as grim a picture as any economic of the South Bay Economics Institute times. ernments’ ability to adapt to chang- analysis of the current situation. Sig- at CSU Dominguez Hills, said at a re- To reach this impressive level of ing business needs, Prager said. nificant job losses, racial inequity cent virtual panel discussion on the growth, Everytable has tapped into Investments in infrastructure that among those suffering the harshest report. new opportunities like delivering will help trade flow more smoothly impacts of the economic slowdown— Telecommuting and food delivery meals to homeless residents housed through Southern California’s ports Los Angeles County, and by extension are among the existing trends that in hotels as part of the state’s Proj- of entry—both land and sea—will the South Bay, have been hit hard. have picked up speed in the pandem- ect Roomkey and more general trends also play a role, he said. But there are glimmers of hope ic. In the South Bay, the latter has like meal subscription services. On account of its weather, well-ed- that have led the university’s eco- led to a jump in the number of “ghost “It’s been a fascinating accelera- ucated population and attractive nat- nomic expert to feel more confident kitchens,” cooking spaces that are de- tion of some of these trends that were ural environment, the South Bay will in the region’s economic future than signed to prep food for delivery only, already taking place,” Prager noted. remain a popular destination for busi- the projected 15.6% year-over-year no inside dining intended. Jose Martinez, fellow panelist and nesses, despite current predictions of increase in unemployment for the sec- The Los Angeles-based startup co-director of the institute, said he is urban drain, Prager said. ond quarter might suggest. Everytable, which aims to provide expecting the South Bay to make a “In the long run, I don’t think any The tech industry, one of the larg- healthy food at fast food prices, was comparably swift recovery, especial- of us have any concerns about the de- est employers in the region, has fared presented as one example of a compa- ly because of the tech-heavy region’s sirability of not just cities, but our re- well during the pandemic, in part be- ny that has been able to increase sales propensity for innovation. gion as a whole,” he said. cause companies and households have during the pandemic. “As hard of a challenge as our

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The bridges that spanned and grew with the port’s history would be held up for 15 minutes or more of the most dedicated, courageous and before travelers could motor across where able persons to serve this city.” they were confronted with a similarly The Gerald Desmond Bridge was a steep uphill climb. large-enough structure for its time—be- The bridge would open as many fore containerization changed the face as 100 times a day to allow ship traffic of shipping—as well as for its intended through, so long waits were the norm for use, to give access to commuters between drivers. Another norm, though not as fre- Long Beach and San Pedro. quent as long waits, was the fact that cars Designed by the Long Beach firm sometimes were launched into the water Moffatt & Nichol, the structure would use by drivers unfamiliar with the hazard of 10,176 tons of steel fabricated and erect- the steep decline and, tragically, not ev- ed by Bethlehem Steel Corp., the prime eryone survived. Most were rescued, but contractor for the project, for approaches, it is thought that seven people died when ramps and the superstructure, and an ad- their cars went into the water. ditional 10,000 tons for the bridge’s piers. Though it was meant to be in use for It took a little less than a brisk three just six months, the Pontoon Bridge had years to build the $12.7-million bridge staying power and remained in use for that allowed for 154 feet of clearance nearly 25 years until the completion of beneath the 6,000-foot-long span. The the Gerald Desmond Bridge in 1968. construction proceeded with few delays, About 100 people were in attendance save for a couple of weeks toward the end on Oct. 18, 1968, including Desmond’s after a crane hoisting the last beam to be The arched metal support structure for the Gerald Desmond Bridge nearing completion. Under the family members, as workers sunk the first installed collapsed, sending the 14-ton bridge, safety nets are in place. Photo courtesy of Long Beach Public Library. 120-foot pile for the Gerald Desmond beam falling 100 feet to the ground, bare- Bridge using a new and revolutionary ly missing two workmen before crashing By TIM GROBATY blyman representing San Pedro and the sonic pile driver, with a tap-in assist from into a pair of oil wells. Columnist area around the ports. He was extraor- Long Beach Harbor Commission Presi- The dedication on June 6, 1968 turned dinarily popular and was repeatedly re- dent William Harrington, who ceremo- out to be a rather solemn affair. Presiden- Bridges are how we’ve always gotten elected to the Assembly, where he served niously drove the piling home with a sil- tial candidate Sen. Robert F. Kennedy had to the other side. 19 terms, during which he lobbied inces- ver-plated sledgehammer, while Gerald been assassinated in LA a day earlier, a The inspiration goes back to days santly for the construction of a bridge or Desmond Jr., then 20, tightened a golden tragedy that canceled a planned fireworks when a tree would fall across a creek, al- a tunnel to connect San Pedro with Ter- bolt on the structure. display at the bridge and brought a mo- lowing people and other animals to safely minal Island. The bridge was named with little ment of silence prior to the speechifying traverse the obstacle of the water below. They decided to go with the bridge. fanfare or discussion, and certainly no of city, port and construction officials. In And for millennia that’s been a Thomas was in attendance at that input from the public that surely would normal times, the opening of the bridge bridge’s utility. Even as more sophisti- bridge’s dedication and opening on Nov. have elicited hundreds of suggestions and would have been a front-page story, but cated engineering was in its early stages, 15, 1963. The Vincent Thomas Bridge weeks of debate. the news of the assassination shoved the during the Roman Empire in the second crossed the Main Channel of the LA har- In May 1965, just five months before bridge dedication story to Page 16 in the century and on through the ages, they’ve bor, connecting San Pedro with Terminal that first piling was sunk, Commissioner local newspaper. been built to span increasingly daunting Island. But to complete the success of the Harrington moved to name the bridge af- The Gerald Desmond Bridge was a obstacles, deep canyons, roaring rivers, LA./Long Beach port complex, a further ter Gerald Desmond. The balance of the fine enough bridge for several years, pro- even vast expanses of the sea. link was needed to make passage easy be- board had already discussed the name, a viding a quick and easy way for cars to In Long Beach today, there are dozens tween Terminal Island and Long Beach. couple of members who weren’t present travel between Long Beach and Terminal of unheralded, relatively unremarkable In the late 1880s and into the early phoned in their OK, the motion carried Island. It was used chiefly by people go- bridges that motorists use without even days of the following century, a wooden and the naming of the bridge was just one ing to and from the Naval Shipyard on the thinking of them as bridges. Numerous trestle bridge was that link, a single rail- less thing to worry about. island. streets that cross the Los Angeles and San road track built by the Salt Lake Railway. Desmond was worthy of the bridge’s But the port complex changed in the Gabriel rivers that bracket the city on the By 1908, it was clear that something more name. Born in Long Beach in 1915, he 1990s, with the closure in 1994 of the west and east. Bridges that span Coyote reliable was needed. That year the trestle attended Poly High School, Long Beach 928-acre Long Beach Naval Station and Creek and Alamitos Bay and the canals was replaced by a 187-foot bascule draw- City College (where he met his future the closure in 1997 of the adjacent 563- of Naples. bridge known as the “jackknife” bridge, wife, Virginia), and Cal State Long Beach acre Long Beach Naval Shipyard, both on Those are the unsung and frequently because it opened and closed like a pock- before transferring to UC Berkeley and Terminal Island. unnamed heroes of bridges, but when it et knife. Harvard Law. The land was transferred to the port comes to mightier feats of engineering, In the mid-1930s, the jackknife bridge In 1941 he enlisted in the Navy and where it became home to a half-dozen the big-ticket, marquee name bridges was removed after the Union Pacific was sent to Harvard Business School, container terminals and soon the Gerald have been found around the ports of LA stopped using it and for years, ferry boats though he mostly served stateside work- Desmond Bridge was being taxed to the and Long Beach, where the long, high were the only way to cross the back chan- ing in fraud investigation. very limit of its ability, with truck traffic spans have had to be designed not just to nel between Long Beach and Terminal Following the war, Desmond returned volume across the bridge skyrocketing, go over the water, but to accommodate Island. The boats typically transported to Long Beach where he opened a private and cargo ships sailing below the bridge the ships that travel beneath the struc- workers and other motorists to the island law practice and became active in lo- turning ever more gargantuan and some- tures. and back. cal politics, serving as 2nd District City times having to wait for low tide, when The first major bridge in the port In 1944, however, the Navy decided it Councilman in the 1950s before he was they could clear the bridge by mere feet. complex to serve the San Pedro area was needed something sturdier than a ferry- elected city attorney in 1960. During his By the early 2000s, the bridge was be- the Vincent Thomas Bridge, “San Pe- boat to transport vehicles and other heavy tenure he was at the forefront of the city’s ing used by trucks rumbling to and from dro’s Golden Gate,” named for a Biloxi, equipment to its base on Terminal Island, fight against the state to retain tideland oil the port, carrying 10% to 15% of the en- Mississippi boy whose father died of the so it built a temporary pontoon bridge to revenues, which were the chief source of tire nation’s shipping cargo, as well as the Spanish Influenza shortly after moving connect Long Beach with the island. And, funds in building the bridge. daily rush of cars. the family to San Pedro in 1919. Vincent not being known for flowery nomencla- Sadly, Desmond never learned of the “It really has become the bridge to grew up on the streets, around the can- ture, the Navy, and eventually everyone honor of having a bridge named for him. everywhere,” Richard D. Steinke, then neries and wharves of the town, working else, just called it the Pontoon Bridge. He died of kidney cancer on January 31, executive director of the Port of Long as a newsboy and a peddler of a massage It was a strange structure that floated 1964. He was 48. Beach, said, using a moniker for the span ointment called, unabashedly, “snake’s on the water, so, depending on the tide, At his funeral, City Manager John that would be recycled in 2020 to describe oil” before graduating from San Pedro vehicles had to descend the road 17 to 25 Mansell said of Desmond. “The personal the bridge’s replacement by current port High School. feet below the level on the shore. When loss I feel upon the death of Gerald Des- director, Mario Cordero. Thomas eventually became an assem- ships required the bridge to open, traffic mond is beyond description. He was one The brutal tonnage of all that cargo BRIDGE Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 19

The floating pontoon bridge was built by the Navy in 1944 as a temporary structure, but it re- Gerald Desmond, the man behind the bridge, was a Long Beach City Councilman and city mained in use until the Gerald Desmond Bridge opened in 1968. Photo courtesy of Long Beach attorney. He died in 1964 from kidney cancer. He was 48. Photo courtesy of Long Beach Public Public Library. Library. traffic took a harsh toll on the Gerald Des- and harbor commissioners lobbying the old bridge was greater than expected. And, again, the opening ceremony mond. By 2004, the bridge was calving state and federal government for fund- There were additional delays as was originally planned to be much more large chunks of concrete into the water ing for what they reckoned would be a the bridge’s completion neared, with celebratory than it was, but, like the trag- before crews placed nylon nets called, $711-million project. COVID-19 lessening the workforce for a edy that made the opening of the Gerald with an absence of dignity, “diapers” be- It would take seven years to com- while and making it difficult for vendors Desmond Bridge in 1968 more somber neath the span to catch the falling debris plete the work on the Gerald Desmond to provide materials. than it had been anticipated, this time before it did real damage. Replacement Bridge, and the cost would But the bridge, still without a name the coronavirus has tamed the opening, Discussions regarding a new bridge skyrocket to $1.46 billion in 2015 when other than what port officials still call the make it less spectacular than what the north of the Gerald Desmond began in Caltrans called for greater seismic safety “Bridge to Everywhere,” finally opened new bridge, the newest wonder of Long earnest in 2002, with local lawmakers features and the cost for demolition of the to traffic on Oct. 5. Beach, deserves.

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www.p2sinc.com BRIDGE BRIDGE 20 • Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 Bridge, rail and terminal investments keep Long Beach port competitive in world market

The new Long Beach bridge is open to vehicular traffic. The Long Beach Containererminal T is pictured in the background. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.

By BRANDON RICHARDSON sists of three lanes in both directions, the increase in larger ships calling on ronmental impact of container move- Senior Reporter an upgrade from the old bridge, which the port will equate to more cargo mov- ment.” had three lanes in one direction and ing through the complex annually. The project encompasses 171 acres Remaining competitive in the world only two lanes in the other. The old Gerald Desmond was built south of 12th Street, north of Pier B of goods movement is a never-ending With no emergency lanes, if there with an expected lifespan of 50 years, Street and west of the 710 Freeway. The quest for higher capacity and efficien- was an accident or stalled vehicles on while the new bridge was designed to port will need to acquire some proper- cy—while simultaneously reducing the old bridge, traffic would bottleneck last at least 100 years. ties already occupied on the westside, emissions—for port authorities around and slow to a crawl. The new bridge The next major project on the port’s which has caused some pushback from the world. To that end, among other on- has emergency lanes in both directions. docket is the Pier B On-Dock Rail Sup- the business community. going projects, the Port of Long Beach Aside from easing traffic across port Facility, the centerpiece of its $1 The port is still in the design pro- celebrated the grand opening of the the bridge, the increased height further billion rail program. As ships grow cess and is navigating the National Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement makes the Port of Long Beach “big- larger, Cordero said it’s important to Environmental Policy Act process, Project. ship ready,” Cordero said. When the remember that trains are getting longer during which the Environmental Pro- Over a decade in the making, the Gerald Desmond was constructed 52 and the port must be able to accommo- tection Agency evaluates environmen- new bridge has a clearance of 205 feet, years ago, container ships were carry- date them. tal impacts before the project can be 50 feet higher than the 1968 Gerald ing about 8,000 twenty-foot equivalent While most trucks transport a sin- approved. The local environmental im- Desmond Bridge. At nearly 2 miles units, or TEUs. Today, ships have more gle shipping container, rail can move pact report was approved by the Long long, the new structure has a more than doubled in size, capable of carry- hundreds at once. The expanded Pier Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners gradual gradient, which is easier on ing more than 21,000 TEUs. B rail system would allow for the as- in January 2018. trucks hauling shipping containers. As Once the old bridge is removed, de- sembly of trains up to 10,000 feet long, The estimated price tag for the rail with the outdated structure, about 15% pending on configuration, vessels car- which equates to nearly 1,000 TEUs project is $870 million but if it’s any- of all imports into the U.S. will travel rying up to around 16,000 TEUs will per trip. thing like the bridge the cost could end across the new bridge. be able to travel into the back channel By allowing more containers to be up being over $1 billion. “Projects like the bridge, they’re in- under the new structure. Being able to transported by rail, Cordero said the The project is not expected to be vestments not only to trade efficiency, accommodate larger ships throughout project is going to have significant pos- completed for over a decade, with the but also to amplify productivity,” Port the entire port makes it more appealing itive impacts, including reducing truck first arrival, departure and storage of Long Beach Executive Director Ma- to shippers determining where to berth traffic on the 710 Freeway. tracks expected to be completed in rio Cordero said. “The bridge allows us for unloading. “The best environmental option 2024, doubling the rail yard’s capacity. to make sure the cargo trucks of the era “There is a part two to this project: for moving containers is by rail, as Additional tracks are expected to come are able to navigate the corridor in a prudent work to widen the back chan- opposed to trucks on the freeway,” online in 2030 and the full project is more efficient manner.” nel to accommodate bigger vessels,” Cordero said. “[The project] will lower slated for completion in 2032. The nearly $1.5 billion bridge con- Cordero said, adding that officials hope our footprint with regard to the envi- The third lynchpin in the port’s BRIDGE BRIDGE Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 21 Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 21 competitive future is its Middle Harbor of the world’s cleanest container termi- Redevelopment Project. Construction nals, according to the port. of this $1.5 billion terminal makeover At 4,200 feet long, Middle Harbor began in 2011. The 10-year construc- can service three ships at once, all tion program consists of combining plugged into shoreside electricity at two operationally obsolete terminals berth, thereby reducing emissions. The into one of the world’s most advanced. terminal has its own on-dock rail yard Phase one of the Middle Harbor designed to handle 1.1 million TEUs project was completed in 2016, the per year, further reducing emissions second phase opened in 2017 and the from truck traffic. full project is expected to be completed “The Port of Long Beach is in a next year. competitive arena … because my col- Dubbed the Long Beach Contain- leagues on the East Coast and in the er Terminal, upon completion, the site Gulf have done a good job investing in will have an annual capacity of 3.3 their ports,” Cordero said. “Shippers million TEUs. In addition to increased have choices. But as our brand indi- capacity, the terminal utilizes elec- cates, we’d like to see that we are the tric-powered equipment, making it one port of choice.”

By the numbers: Quick facts about the Gerald Desmond Replacement Bridge To meet the growing traffic vol- the cable’s location. umes from the Port of Long Beach, • Vertical clearance: 205 feet. the port and Caltrans have replaced • Foundations: More than 350 be- the Gerald Desmond Bridge with a low-ground pilings support the newer, higher and longer structure above-ground columns and go that remains unnamed, but it’s be- as deep as 175 feet (more than ing called the Bridge to Everywhere 17 stories) below the surface. by port and city officials (though it’s • Steel used in its construction: more frequently called the Gerald 18 million pounds of structural Desmond Replacement Bridge). steel, 75 million pounds of re- Here are some quick facts about bar. the bridge, which opened to traffic • Concrete used in its construc- on Oct. 5. tion: Approximately 300,000 • Total length: Approximately cubic yards. 8,800 feet, including 2,000 feet • Cost: Approximately $1.47 bil- for the cable-stayed span. lion. • Height of its two towers: 515 • Jobs generated throughout con- feet. struction: About 3,000. • Support columns: About 90 al- • Number of vehicles that cross together for the east and west the bridge per day: Approxi- approach spans. mately 68,000. • Cables: 40 for each of the two • Expected lifespan of the bridge: columns. Each cable consists of 100 years. 45 to 109 strands, depending on BRIDGE 22 • Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020

New Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement bike- pedestrian path may not open until next year

A photo of the Mark Bixby Memorial Bicycle-Pedestrian Path from the approaches to the main span of the Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement. Photo courtesy of bridge project spokesperson Denis Wolcott.

By ASIA MORRIS lanes. vocate, Bixby led the push in incorporat- would get to Downtown Long Beach from Staff Reporter Tony Cruz, a former professional cy- ing the bike and pedestrian path into the the end of the bridge has been a “sticking clist and U.S. Olympian who has served as design of the new bridge. point,” and that if building the connector A bicycle and walk path planned as the city’s bicycle ambassador for just over a Allan Crawford, a longtime cycling bridge is the reason the port is still deter- part of the new bridge project may not open decade, said the port should wait. advocate who worked with Bixby through mining when to open the path, it’s still “a immediately—and possibly as long as two “I look at it as, number one, from a the Long Beach-based nonprofit and bi- huge stride forward.” years after the bridge opens to traffic. safety standpoint, and then number two, I cycling advocacy organization, Bikeable “I applaud that effort, because that will Port officials initially said the Mark think the bridge is also going to be a really Communities, said he went with Bixby to make the bridge much, much more useful,” Bixby Memorial Bicycle-Pedestrian Path unique kind of cool, popular destination one of the first presentations to the Califor- Crawford said. “If it takes an extra year to would open weeks after the new bridge, and I think the experience for riders and nia Coastal Commission on incorporating get us there, it’s sad, we should have done which opened to vehicular traffic on Oct. 5. pedestrians should be taken into account,” the path into the design of the bridge. it five years ago, but we applaud their effort But officials now say they are weighing said Cruz, who currently serves as com- “It was really all because Mark Bix- in getting it done today.” their options on whether to first construct munity programs specialist for the city’s by one day said, nope, we can’t be a bike The port has to consider the demolition a new connector bridge that would allow Public Works department. friendly city if there isn’t a bike and ped of the existing bridge, Tony Cruz said, cit- cyclists and pedestrians to access the path Once the path is complete, pedestrians path across that bridge, and it went from ing the difficulty of having to ride a bike from Ocean Boulevard and the city’s trail and bicyclists will be separated by a paint- there,” Crawford said. or walk through detours and a construc- network. That could take anywhere from ed line, as is the case with Class 1 paths. Bixby, who hailed from one of the tion zone. He estimates the path won’t 18 months to two years to complete, ac- The 12-foot-wide route will include clear city’s founding families, was also founding open until sometime early next year, but cording to a bridge project spokesperson. markings for cyclists on one side, and pe- director of the Long Beach Bicycle Festi- they’ll have a more accurate timeline once The project for the connector bridge destrians on the other. No motorized vehi- val and a driving force in the creation of a schedule for the demolition is released. was recently bid out and port officials -ex cles will be allowed, and the law against the city’s Bicycle Master Plan, envisioning The COVID-19 health pandemic is pect to award the contract around the first skateboards on sidewalks will likely apply Long Beach as a city where, by 2040, “bi- also a consideration, Cruz said. of the year, said Duane Kenagy, capital to this path, according to a bridge project cycling will be the easiest, most convenient “If this really does turn into a very programs executive for the port. spokesperson. way to run errands, get to work or school, popular riding destination, what do we do While there’s an entry point to the path The path is named after the late Mark or travel for recreation,” according to a during COVID-19?” Cruz said. “We can’t at the Pico and Pier E Street intersection, Llewellyn Bixby, who was 44 when he died 2016 draft. have hundreds of people all at once trying officials say that entrance raises issues of in a plane crash at Long Beach Airport on From early in the process, Crawford to ride up and down and walk up and down safety due to lack of sidewalks and bicycle March 16, 2011. A longtime bicycling ad- has said the question of how path users on the bridge.” TRADE & LOGISTICS Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 23

Cargo volumes have boomed in recent months but ports still anticipating year-over-year declines

By BRANDON RICHARDSON Senior Reporter

Despite several months of histor- ic cargo volumes at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, both facilities are anticipating overall 2020 volumes to be less than 2019. The year started off with a certain amount of uncertainty due to the on- going trade dispute with China, Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero said. January and February car- go volumes were down compared to the same months in 2019. Long Beach cargo volumes bottomed out in March, when the port moved 517,633 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, the standard measure for shipping containers despite the fact that most are now 40 feet long. Five out of the first nine months of the year, Port of Long Beach cargo volumes decreased compared to the same months in 2019. The sharpest decline—17.3%— came in April. May was the first month Ships sit at berth at the Port of Long Beach. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova. (Please Continue to Page 24)

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Containers are stacked six high awaiting transport at the Port of Long Beach. Photo by Thomas R. Cordova.

(Continued from Page 23) Historic months notwithstanding, said exports are lagging at both ports as repeatedly claimed the trade body treats of the year to see an increase but June the Port of LA’s 2020 cargo volume is the trade imbalance with China contin- the U.S. unfairly. was again down 11.1%. down 12% through August compared to ues to widen despite President Donald The ruling will likely be appealed “Most of the American gateways the same period last year. In May, the Trump’s ongoing attempts to negotiate by the U.S.; however, the organization’s were having challenges,” Cordreo said, port forecasted total annual cargo vol- with the Chinese government. In Jan- appeals court is currently not function- noting that the hit to Long Beach was umes at 7.9 million TEUs, which would uary, Trump and China’s Vice Premier ing because Washington has refused to less severe than every other U.S. port have been a 15% year-over-year decrease Liu He signed phase one of a trade accept new members for it, AP reports. except for Houston. from 2019. With the boost from August, agreement, but hundreds of billions of “For port authorities, [tariffs] have In contrast, the second half of 2020, updated projections predict 8.5 million dollars in tariffs from both countries been problematic,” Cordero said, “par- thus far, has been booming. Prelimi- TEUs for a 9% year-over-year decrease. persist. ticularly for ports like ourselves, where nary September data shows the Long Port of Long Beach staff are project- Seroka said that for every five import about 70% of imports … are from Chi- Beach port moved 790,000 TEUs, a ing about a 1% year-over-year decline. containers received at the Port of LA, na.” new monthly record—beating out the September data for the Port of LA only one export container goes out. In Over the last two decades, West previous record of about 753,000 TEUs was not available at the time of publica- the past, the trade imbalance ratio was Coast ports have lost 20% of the ship- set just two months before in July. Au- tion but Seroka said estimates were that closer to 3 to 1, he stated, noting that a ping market share to East and Gulf coast gust cargo volumes were also up 9.3%, the port would surpass 900,000 TEUs, high number of empty containers are be- ports, Seroka noted. The loss comes making it the best August in the port’s making it the first time in history a U.S. ing shipped back to China. down to competitiveness, which is why history. port surpasses 900,000 TEUs in con- In addition to exacerbated trade im- the ports of Long Beach and LA have In May, the Port of LA had its worst secutive months. The port is projecting balance, Jonathan Gold, vice president continued to invest in their facilities. month since the height of the Great Re- a “solid” October, with TEU movement of supply chain and customs policy for Federal dollars invested in East and cession over 10 years ago, according forecast in the high 700,000s, he added. the National Retail Federation, said U.S. Gulf coast ports over the last decade to Executive Director Gene Seroka. The surge of imports is the result of businesses are being hurt by Trump’s have outpaced federal monies going Throughout the month, the port pro- a couple factors, both port directors not- tariffs as well as China’s retaliatory tar- to West Coast ports 10 to one, Seroka cessed 450,000 TEUs. ed. Warehouses and distribution centers iffs. added, stating West Coast ports need a In Los Angeles, August was the are frantically restocking inventories “We’ve always been opposed to the stronger coalition to bring in more fed- port’s best month in its 114-year history, that became overly depleted as a result use of tariffs,” Gold said. “We certain- eral investment. with nearly 962,000 TEUs processed. of shipping disruptions out of China due ly agree China has been a bad actor but Despite the varied challenges faced This is only the first month ever the to the pandemic. Also, retailers across we don’t agree that tariffs were the right by the nation’s ports, Seroka remains port that has moved over 900,000 TEUs. the nation are preparing for the holiday way to go to get China to make chang- cautiously optimistic. The increase in cargo was driven by shopping season. es.” “I’m encouraged by the volume we’re imports, with the port processing more “The summer is the usual peak sea- In September, a World Trade Or- moving at the Port of LA today but there than 500,000 TEUs for the first time in a son here at the port anyway,” Cordero ganization panel ruled the Trump ad- is also reason for caution and concern,” one-month period. said. “Consumer demand by way of ministration’s tariffs on $200 billion Seroka said. “By no means are we out “A word of caution: one month or online shopping models certainly in- worth of Chinese goods are illegal. The of the woods as a nation economically. even one quarter does not make a trend,” creased … and, of course, small busi- decision marks the first time the Gene- We’re facing severe economic contrac- Seroka said during his monthly update nesses were able to get back on their feet va-based trade organization has ruled tion. We’re in the midst of a national in September. “Despite this import surge [after mandatory shutdowns].” against high-profile tariffs imposed by health crisis like we’ve never seen and that we’re seeing, the U.S. economy and While imports continue to increase, the Trump administration, according to trade tensions continue.” global trade face significant challenges.” driving the record numbers, Cordero an Associated Press report. Trump has TRADE & LOGISTICS Long Beach Business Journal • October 2020 • 25 State board approves stricter port environmental rules for at-berth vessels to reduce emissions

By BRANDON RICHARDSON and CARB data. The new regulation ships, which carry unpackaged car- 55% decrease in cancer risk associat- Senior Reporter is expected to eliminate thousands of go such as grains, coal and ore, and ed with air pollution. tons of pollutants. roll-on/roll-off vessels that transport Additional benefits outlined by Air pollution out of the ports of The previous at-berth regulation wheeled vehicles such as cars, trucks, CARB include reduced mortality, Long Beach and Los Angeles has been was approved in 2007 and required trailers and railroad cars. hospitalizations and emergency room a point of contention for years, partic- cruise, container and refrigerated-car- The approved regulation sets time- visits associated with poor air quality, ularly for its impact on communities go vessels to connect to shore power. lines for compliance based on ship the promotion of advances in research of color. Both ports have developed Since then, shore power has been in- type: all container, refrigerated and and development for cleaner marine and redeveloped plans to reduce emis- stalled at 65 berths statewide and on cruise ships by 2023, roll-on/roll-off technologies, and a reduction in diesel sions. more than 500 vessels, resulting in (ro-ro) ships by 2025, and tankers by particulate matter, a known carcino- However, the California Air Re- an 80% reduction in emissions from 2025 in Southern California and 2027 gen linked to lung cancer. sources Board approved new rules in those ship classes as of this year. in Northern California. “Keep in mind, these emissions re- late August that will require the ports Hector De La Torre, who made the The measure also includes the abil- ductions still won’t kick in for anoth- to reduce large amounts of pollutants motion to adopt the regulation, said ity for companies to use CARB-ap- er couple years,” said Francis Yang, a from ships at berth by 2031. oil tankers are the greatest polluter of proved innovative concepts as an alter- Long Beach and South Los Angeles The new regulation bolsters exist- the vessels currently not required to native to shore power. Once berthed, community organizer with the Sier- ing clean-air mandates by requiring connect to shore power. ships have two hours to connect to ra Club’s My Generation campaign. more ships to physically connect to “We cannot look the other way approved emission control equipment. “That’s more time that ships get to onshore electrical grids to meet the on the emissions we’re seeing from Under the new regulation, nitro- continue to pollute our air. That’s ship’s energy needs, allowing auxilia- … tankers,” he said during a recent gen oxide emissions from ships are more time for the same frontline com- ry engines to be shut down and reduce CARB meeting. De La Torre noted expected to be 46% less in 2031 com- munities to have to wait to breathe.” emissions—a practice known as shore that the successes of the 2007 regu- pared to projections based on the 2007 Total net costs for the measure power. lation proves the expanded regulation regulations. Similarly, diesel partic- from 2021 to 2032 is estimated at Goods movement through the port will be effective. ulate matter is expected to decrease $2.23 billion, while the state would accounts for nearly a third of Califor- Other ships currently not required 52%. At the ports of Long Beach and save $2.32 billion by avoiding adverse nia’s economy but about half of the to connect to shore power are bulk LA, by 2031 there is expected to be a (Please Continue to Page 26) state’s air pollution, according to state

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A ship is offloaded at the Port of Long Beach’s Pier J. Photo by Brandon Richardson. (Continued from Page 25) Union Local 94 and 29 released a joint Rather than placing the burden email. He confirmed a proposal has health impacts brought on by exces- statement saying the regulation puts solely on California ports, the union been made to delay the trucking fee sive air pollution, according to CARB. California ports at a disadvantage. said elected leaders should push for implementation to next year. Peterson Anticipated costs per vessel are $1.14 “We are disappointed in the de- national air quality and environmental went on to say the port is supportive per 20-foot equivalent unit on con- cision … which has the potential to standards to maintain a “level playing of the new regulation. tainer and refrigerated ships, $4.65 jeopardize hundreds of good-paying field.” Specifically, they argue that “[We] will be working on devel- per passenger on a cruise ship, $7.66 jobs,” the statement reads. “It is not ro-ro vessels may now bypass Califor- oping the required Port Plan ... [that] per vehicle on ro-ros and less than one feasible for ro-ro vessels to comply nia ports in favor of facilities without will describe the actions the Harbor cent per gallon of finished product on with CARB’s required technology by such requirements, including Hous- Department needs to take in order to an oil tanker. 2025, and even once the technology ton, South Carolina and Mexico. ensure compliance,” Peterson said, Following the vote, the Inter- becomes available the cost will be out De La Torre was critical of the adding that the plan is due to CARB national Longshore and Warehouse of reach for the ports.” port of Long Beach and LA during on Dec. 1, 2021. the meeting, saying he is frustrated at Port cities must be held account- recent decisions to delay environmen- able for air pollution that impacts sur- tal fee collections for trucks that do rounding communities, De La Torre not meet environmental standards. He said. At the same time, board member said the ports made the decision based John Gioia said landlocked communi- on “economic uncertainty,” while the ties across the country also must do ports were experiencing high cargo their part by accepting slight increases volumes. in consumer goods prices when costs “They knew they had very high are inevitably passed onto consumers. volumes in the month of July,” De La “Fees are really small compared Torre said. “That, to me, is a complete to the value of goods that are being lack of commitment to their Clean Air transported,” Gioia said. “[Port] com- Action Plan. That container fee has to munities shouldn’t pay the price for be part of the solution.” providing the United States with con- The ports experienced an increase sumer goods that are coming into our in cargo volumes because of a surge in ports.” online shopping amid the coronavirus pandemic, Lee Peterson, spokesman CalMatters contributed to this story. for the Port of Long Beach, said in an $1.7+ MILLION DOLLARS WE DID IT!

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