April 9-22, 2019 Long Beach Area’s Newsmagazine www.lbbusinessjournal.com

In This Issue Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach Ports Weigh Alternatives Begins A New Era Of Racing To Diesel By PIERCE NAHIGYAN Staff Writer Trucks Spring has arrived and, years, with a new title sponsor. event. When association Presi- with it, the distant roar of en- Honda luxury and performance dent and CEO Jim Michaelian By PIERCE NAHIGYAN gines. An institution that dates brand Acura has succeeded announced the title sponsorship Staff Writer Grand Prix back nearly half a century, the Toyota to become the leading in early February, he declared 2019 Acura Grand Prix of Long partner with the Grand Prix 2019 to be the start of a “new (Page 24) As part of their shared goal Beach runs April 12 through Association of Long Beach, the era” for the United States’ lon- to transition to zero-emission 14 – and for the first time in 39 organization that puts on the (Please Continue to Page 26) trucks, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have released a short-term feasibility assess- ment for replacing diesel-pow- ered drayage trucks with avail- able low- and zero-emission alternatives by 2021. Of the five alternative fuels evaluated, natural gas and battery elec- tric platforms are the closest to Going Green & Earth Day reaching commercial viability (Page 18) to “provide similar or better overall performance” than cur- rent Class 8 (heavy duty) diesel trucks. The platforms were fur- ther analyzed for their opera- tional and economic feasibility (Please Continue to Page 23) Assemblymember O’Donnell Talks Tenant Policy (Page 12) The staff of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach (GPALB) gather around one of eight Acura NSX pace cars to appear during Grand Prix weekend. Clockwise from left: Association President and CEO Jim Michaelian, Richard Marti- Current Issues nez, Sandy Hendrix, Edmund Vaivao, Mike McElroy, Steven Halley, Chris Esslinger, Gordon Morris, Martin Bannon, Lin- da White, Kourtney Brandt, Kurrin Kastelan, Tammy Johnson, Cindy Forster, Cecelia Ruebel, Gemma Bannon, Aileen And Changes in McBride, Allison Wilson. Association staff not pictured: Christopher Allen, David Carrillo, Crandall Dickinson, Sigifredo Contreras, Pablo Martin, Dwight Tanaka, Jake Tanaka. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.) Sacramento

By ALENA MASCHKE Can Community Paramedicine Provide Relief Staff Writer Representing an assem- To Crowded Emergency Rooms? bly district that includes the busy ports of Long Beach and By ALENA MASCHKE Moffatt & Nichol San Pedro, the tourism hotspot (Page 3) Staff Writer Catalina Island and large parts In light of Community Hos- the Long Beach City Council munity paramedicine concepts, of the densely-populated City of Long Beach, Patrick O’Donnell 2 PortSide pital’s closing in 2018 and sub- have proposed options to take a request that was forwarded to sequent plans to reopen the fa- pressure off the city’s strained the council’s public safety com- represents a diversity of inter- 4 Growing Long Beach cility through a public-private emergency departments. mittee for further review. ests. In Sacramento, O’Don- 6 Newswatch partnership between the City During the council’s March “There are a lot of commu- nell chairs the State Assembly of Long Beach and for-profit 19 meeting, 5th District Coun- nity paramedicine programs Committee on Education. He’s 16 Real Estate & Development health care company Molina, cilmember Stacy Mungo pro- taking place all over the state, also a member of the budget Wu, Network LLC, members of posed the city look into com- (Please Continue to Page 6) (Please Continue to Page 8)

How To Deeply Unnerve A Millennial By Editor SAMANTHA MEHLINGER

I think we can all agree that there is an un- looking down at the tempestuous sea of divi- ending cavalcade of issues that are unnerving sion below). about 2019, regardless of where you live, what Obviously some are dealing with more per- you do for a living or which side of the fence turbing circumstances than others. But there you land on politically (or if you’re a despon- seems to be a general consensus in Ameri- dent moderate like me, perched on the fence, ca that, to some degree, the following things IN THE NEWS 2 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

PortSide: Keeping Up Vol. XXXV No. 7 • April 9-22, 2019

FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER The Long Beach Business Journal is a pub- George Economides lication of South Coast Publishing, Inc., With The Port Of Long incorporated by the State of California in EDITOR July 1985. It premiered March 1987 as the Samantha Mehlinger Long Beach Airport Business Journal. The Business Journal is published every other Beach SENIOR WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER Tuesday, except between December 25 Brandon Richardson and mid-January. Distribution is approx- By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER imately 22,000. Reproduction in whole Editor STAFF WRITERS or in part without written permission is Alena Maschke, Pierce Nahigyan strictly prohibited unless otherwise stat- ed. Opinions expressed by perspective GUEST GRAPHIC DESIGNER writers and guest columnists are not nec- Ryan Suburu essarily the views of the Long Beach Busi- ness Journal. GUEST PUBLISHER April Economides ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL DEADLINES Ads: Wednesday prior to publication. LONG BEACH BUSINESS JOURNAL Press releases: two weeks prior to publica- 2599 E. 28th Street, Suite 212 tion. Mail or e-mail press releases to info@ Signal Hill, CA 90755 lbbj.com. The editorial calendar is avail- Phone: (562) 988-1222 able at www.lbbusinessjournal.com. Fax: (562) 988-1239 www.lbbusinessjournal.com OFFICE HOURS: [email protected] Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

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Stacey Rebaza, a third generation Long Beach local, has been working on the executive floor of the Port of Long Beach’s offices for 17 years. In 2002, she joined the port as a senior secretary in what was then called the trade division, now known MONDAY as business development. When Chris Lytle became the port’s executive director in 2011, Rebaza was promoted to become his executive assistant. She has served in MORNING this role ever since, and has worked with three executive directors and two interim executive directors. “Every executive director has their own style and way they want COFFEE and to lead the organization. You definitely need to get on board with the next executive director’s vision and goals for the organization. It’s a learning curve,” she said. “In BIZBRIEF a nutshell, I am responsible for making sure the executive director at the nation’s second largest seaport has everything he needs to be successful.” Rebaza’s phone is Sign up at www.lbbusinessjournal.com for MONDAY MORNING COFFEE on 24/7 – and her job is different every day. “If he [the executive director] needs to and BIZBRIEF, FREE email subscriptions about issues, events and meetings meet with certain customers for a certain amount of time, then I have to make sure for the week. Monday Morning Coffee is sent out at 6 a.m., and BizBrief is that that happens. If he needs to talk to Mayor Garcia right now about something, news of the day, sent out periodically around 4 p.m. weekdays as needed. I need to make sure that that happens,” she explained. “Every day is different, and that’s why I love my job.” The people who work at and with the port, as well as those who live in the City of Long Beach, are Rebaza’s favorite part of her work. “This city is full of amazing people,” she said.

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Moffatt & Nichol Moves Into New Douglas Park Headquarters By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER Editor

Founded in 1941 in Long Beach, en- The firm’s reputation for specializing in gineering firm Moffatt & Nichol, now a maritime projects stretches back to the global company with 40 offices in seven very beginning, when the founders took countries, is doubling down on its com- on contracts to design naval facilities in mitment to its hometown by purchasing Long Beach and Port Hueneme. “We do new headquarters at The Terminal at Navy facilities all over the world. That’s Douglas Park. one of our biggest clients, and that’s About 100 of the firm’s employees actually how we got our start, with moved from the company’s previous of- the Long Beach Naval Shipyard here,” fices at Kilroy Airport Center to their Nichol said. new digs last week, according to Presi- Moffatt & Nichol has had a hand in dent and CEO Eric Nichol. Another 100 the engineering of many Long Beach employees who previously worked in icons – from the moorings of the Queen Long Beach have been moved to a new Mary to the original Gerald Desmond office in Orange County, closer to their Bridge (soon to be replaced with an homes. even larger structure) and even work “I want to make sure it doesn’t to improve water flow in the Colorado sound like we’re moving out of Long Lagoon. Recently, the largest local in- Beach, because our headquarters are frastructure project Moffatt & Nichol here,” Nichol said. “It’s just the quality has been involved in is the redesign of of life – we want to have people spend the Port of Long Beach’s Middle Har- more time with their families than on bor, which involves combining two the freeway,” he said of the Orange aging terminals into one, state-of-the- County facility. Additional offices are art, mostly automated facility. “That’s also planned for Downtown Los Ange- a very big project for the city and the les and the Inland Empire in order to port, and we’re very proud of our in- have resources in closer proximity to volvement in that whole process,” Nich- clients in those areas, he explained. ol said, noting that the company is the “This will always be our headquar- lead designer. ters – that’s one of the reasons why we The firm’s international offices in bought a building, is because it just the United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, makes more sense for us. We’ve been Chile, Colombia and Panama are strate- here 75 years; this is our home,” Nichol gically located due to its maritime work emphasized. in those regions, according to Nichol. The new Long Beach headquar- For example, “We started out there in ters is a two-story, 25,000-square-foot Latin America with a lot of our ship- building with an interior designed by ping clients, port clients that are going Eric Nichol, president and CEO of Moffatt & Nichol, is pictured at the firm’s new headquarters local firm Retail Design Collaborative. through the [Panama] Canal,” Nichol at The Terminal, a brand-new office complex in Douglas Park. His grandfather Frank Nichol It is one of four buildings within The said. When it comes to maritime work, co-founded the company in Long Beach with John Moffatt in 1941. (Photograph by Brandon Terminal development, with the re- Moffatt & Nichol specializes in ports, Richardson.) maining three housing a mixture of ten- harbors, cruise terminals and more, he ants. Nichol explained that the building noted. offers a number of benefits for employ- Moffatt & Nichol’s other key areas of Climate change is also driving some nology, engineering and mathematics) ees, including work stations that are ad- concertation are transportation, coastal business for Moffatt & Nichol. “We’ve in high schools and middle schools to jacent to windows for natural lighting, engineering and environmental remedi- got a lot of stuff we’re working on now help people understand those fields at an open floorplan to allow for more ation. When it comes to transportation, along the California coast for different a younger age. “It’s not all people with collaboration, and amenities such as a the company is often sought for its work municipalities on sea level rise and wa- pocket protectors and tape on their kitchen and courtyard. engineering bridges, roadways and rail. ter elevation change,” he noted. glasses. It’s actually a wonderful pro- “Long Beach seems like it’s get- Currently, Moffatt & Nichol is the lead One of the challenges Moffatt & fession,” he said. ting more and more business friendly. designer on the 405 Freeway widening Nichol faces is finding new talent, ac- Moffatt & Nichol has always grown It’s also in a great location,” Nichol, project in Orange County. “We’re doing cording to its chief executive. “We’re organically, and Nichol intends to keep who lives in Long Beach, said of why 17 bridges as a team between the 605 trying to hire 50 people as a company, it that way. “We’re going to continue do- the city is still a good fit for the com- [Freeway] and [State Route] 73,” Nichol globally,” Nichol said, noting that the ing what we’re doing. Keep innovating, pany. “We’re halfway between Orange said. “We’re adding four lanes total to job market is tight right now. Just find- keep challenging yourselves and never County and Los Angeles . . . . We’ve the roadway, and that is going to help ing and retaining talent, it’s a very diffi- rest on your successes,” Nichol said of got the best port facilities in the nation people’s commutes,” he added. cult time. There need to be more people his future focus. “We’re going to con- here. There are other things that aren’t “Transportation is a very large going into engineering school because tinue doing what we’ve always been related to business, but Long Beach is growth sector for us, and [so is] some there are not as many as what the coun- doing for the last 75 years, which is just a fun place too, and I think people of the environmental work we’re do- try needs.” He added, “We want to hire trying to keep getting better and being like that.” ing. We see a lot of growth potential someone out of college, and so do five more creative for our clients. . . . But Nichol is the third generation within in that,” Nichol said. He noted that the other firms. It’s a really competitive we believe it’s not about getting bigger his family to lead the company, which company is gaining more work along market right now.” for growth’s sake. If you find great peo- was founded by his grandfather, Frank the Gulf Coast to assist with environ- Nichol said he supports an increas- ple, hire them. The business is all about Nichol, and his partner John Moffatt. mental cleanups related to oil spills. ing emphasis on STEM (science, tech- people.” GROWING LONG BEACH 4 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

Business Beautification Program Brings Fresh Coat Of Paint To Anaheim Street By PIERCE NAHIGYAN Staff Writer

As part of its continuing efforts to support new and existing businesses in Long Beach, the city’s economic devel- opment department is carrying out a pi- lot program to refresh storefronts along Anaheim Street, Carson Street and Pa- cific Avenue. Approved in 2018 and now underway, the Business Corridor Im- provement and Property Beautification Partnership Program has a long name but a simple purpose: making business- es look good. Last February, the Long Beach City Council designated $450,000 to be split evenly among the corridors of Carson, Anaheim and Pacific. The one-time funding precludes major infrastructure changes but allows for painting, awning repair and the replacement of windows and light fixtures, Economic Develop- Furniture store The Bed Post got a fresh coat of paint thanks to assistance from the City of Long Beach. From left: Kristine Hammond, executive di- ment Officer Seyed Jalali said. “First rector of the Zaferia Business Association; Paul Forman, property owner; Joe Santoro and Derek Llewellyn, co-owners of The Bed Post. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.) and foremost, painting is what we focus on. Most buildings, that’s probably the first thing you notice – cracked stuc- also expressed his satisfaction with the ing two in Cambodia Town and one tion, said that she worked closely with co, old paint,” he went on. “And then if new paint job. He added that the two at the corner of Anaheim Street and the economic development department funding is available, we focus on other residential tenants who rent the second Pacific Avenue. The property owner to make property owners aware of the elements of the building.” story of the building were pleased by at 200 W. Anaheim St. is investing a pilot program. “We welcome it with With the Carson Street improvements the change as well. “substantial” amount of money to help open arms to happen again,” she said. completed in December, the department Jalali said that, when possible, eco- with restoration, Jalali said. “Those Both Jalali and Hammond expressed has begun work on Anaheim Street. nomic development partners with oth- are the kind of scenarios we like: the a desire to see initial improvements on The first business owner on the receiv- er municipal departments to carry out partnership, the contribution from the Anaheim Street spur improvements at ing end of these renovations praised the more advanced renovations. Tree re- private property owner.” neighboring businesses. “We’re really program. “It’s absolutely great,” Joe San- moval in the Norse Village area off of The business corridor improvement hoping for the domino effect where toro, co-owner of The Bed Post at 3143 Carson Street was completed in collab- program was created to help fulfill one business will see what improve- E. Anaheim St., told the Business Jour- oration with the public works depart- the city’s Blueprint for Economic De- ments are done visually to that area, nal. Santoro’s furniture store occupies ment, for example. To help stretch the velopment, a 10-year plan to “create and then they’ll want to do the same,” the first floor of the building, which was limited funding of the pilot program, economic opportunities for workers, Hammond said. In the meantime, she completely repainted in about a week’s Jalali said that the department encour- investors and entrepreneurs,” Jalali ex- is encouraging Zaferia businesses to time. Santoro said the expense was out ages property owners to contribute plained. “It is a program that involves look into using other city programs to of reach for his small business, which financially to renovations if they are city investment, cooperation from raise renovation funds, such as Kiva, a has leased the space for two years. “Ob- able. In the case of 3143 E. Anaheim property owners and, to the extent that crowdfunding platform for obtaining viously, money’s tight,” he said. “To have St., Forman paid to have the rear sec- we can leverage them, the business microloans, and the city’s commercial that ability [to repaint] with a program tion of the building painted. associations or business improvement improvement rebate, which offers up to like this . . . was awesome. I can’t say The economic development depart- districts.” $2,000 to business owners and com- enough about it.” ment plans to repaint three more prop- Kristine Hammond, executive di- mercial property owners for exterior The property owner, Paul Forman, erties in the Anaheim corridor, includ- rector of the Zaferia Business Associa- improvements.

NEWSWATCH 6 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

Community ternate destination” seeks to expand the Because these paramedicine proj- man, a professor at the University of authority of paramedics to make a call ects are in the pilot phase, every year California, San Francisco’s School of Paramedicine on the spot: does the patient need to be the California Emergency Medical Ser- Medicine and the lead evaluator of the (Continued from Page 1) treated in an emergency department, or vices Authority (EMSA) has to re-apply community paramedicine programs un- would they be better served in a differ- for a waiver that allows the programs der EMSA’s oversight. and I feel that Long Beach is a model ent environment, like a sobering center to continue. This is because the “scope “There’s 100% review of all com- city; and I think that it’s important for or an urgent care facility? of practice” for medical professions is munity paramedicine visits [and] trans- all our residents, experts and leaders “We generally believe that health enshrined in state law and cannot be ports to alternate destinations,” Coff- to have the opportunity to weigh in on care is very fragmented in the United expanded without permission from the man said. “Each of the sites is very what’s going on,” Mungo said. States, and that a lot of people don’t Office of Statewide Health Planning committed to reviewing and learning have access or know how to access the and Development (OSHPD). and ensuring that the care that’s provid- What Is Community health care system. And so, they often “California is one of three states that ed is of high quality.” Paramedicine? use 911, probably inappropriately,” Ghi- has the ability to create these pilot proj- Coffman’s research group has re- rardelli explained. “Obviously, it has ects,” Sandra Shewry, vice president for peatedly reviewed data produced by Currently, there are 12 active com- to be done safely, and a lot of patients external engagement at the California each individual program to determine munity paramedicine pilot projects need to go directly to the ER. There’s Healthcare Foundation (CHF), noted. which have been a success, which need across California, with four more proj- no doubt about that. But we think we “In most states, if you want to change improvement and which haven’t worked ects set to kick off this spring. Spanning can safely select out the few that don’t the scope of practice for a health pro- out. “I think they’ve been pretty suc- the state from Shasta County to the City need to go there. We think ultimately fessional, you have to just take it into cessful overall, with the exception of of San Diego, the projects all have one it’s a more sustainable model for health the political process immediately. Cali- urgent care,” Coffman said. thing in common: they give paramedics care delivery.” fornia has this ability to create this safe One of the seven community para- more authority. Alternate destination concepts, harbor, where you can do these pilot medicine concepts that have been tested “The old paradigm is basically: you which are broken into three categories projects, have them independently eval- in California involves transporting pa- call, we haul,” Dr. David Ghilarduc- (sobering center, mental health and ur- uated, look at the data.” According to tients to urgent care centers rather than ci, president-elect of the Emergency gent care) are just three of the seven com- Shewry, the other two states with simi- emergency departments if paramedics Medical Directors Association of Cal- munity paramedicine concepts that have lar options are Iowa and Minnesota. on the scene determine their medical ifornia, said of the traditional role of been tested in pilot projects across Cali- needs to be acute, but not life-threaten- paramedics responding to a 911 call. fornia. Short-term check-ups on patients Have The Pilot Projects Been ing. Once picked up, patients are transport- who were recently discharged from an Successful? For example, a patient who twisted ed to the closest emergency department. emergency department are another con- their ankle during soccer practice may “They’re often crowded with patients cept in trial. So is linking frequent users Because of their pilot status, com- still call 911, especially in the evening, who probably could get better health of emergency medical services (EMS) muBecause of their pilot status, com- when their family doctor’s practice is care in other settings,” he said. to providers of non-emergency services munity paramedicine projects are sub- closed. “Urgent care can be really great That’s where community paramedi- that care for underlying physical, psy- ject to more scrutiny than other health for that,” Coffman pointed out. “Be- cine comes in. One concept, coined “al- chological and social needs. care services, according to Janet Coff- cause you need attention pretty quickly, NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019 - 7

but you don’t need all of the more so- a lot of variation,” Coffman said. we utilized wellness preventative care update on the pilot projects conducted phisticated equipment that you have in Still, she thinks urgent care centers and urgent care centers.” by Coffman and her team. In response, emergency departments.” provide necessary access to health care, the project – which is the largest of its Coffman noted this is especially especially in communities that are un- Has There Been Opposition? kind in enrollment numbers – changed true for low-income patients, who may derserved by more traditional medical its protocol to provide at least one home have limited access to transportation – providers, like hospitals or physicians’ Rerouting patients to urgent care visit per patient, the report stated. Un- making an ambulance the only way to offices. However, to be an effective al- centers is not the only community para- der the previous protocol, some patients access care – or a job that doesn’t al- ternative, urgent care centers must offer medicine concept that has struggled only received a phone call to follow up low them to take time off for doctor’s extended hours, she explained. “For ur- in the pilot phase. A project providing on their discharge from the ED. appointments. “Lower income folks do gent care to be successful, particularly short-term care to patients recently re- Butte County’s increased rate of re- tend to end up in the emergency depart- in low-income communities, you have leased from emergency rooms in Butte admissions among certain patients is ment a bit more,” Coffman said. to have night and weekend hours so that County saw the rate of hospital read- one reason the California Nurses As- Despite the benefits of urgent care people who can’t take time off work missions increase among heart failure sociation (CNA) objects to community outlined by Coffman, all three projects during the day – without losing pay – patients, according to a February 2019 (Please Continue to Page 8) that focused on urgent care centers as still have access.” alternate destinations have conclud- During a Long Beach City Council ed. “They didn’t have a lot of patients meeting on April 2, 9th District Coun- that met the eligibility criteria to be cilmember Rex Richardson asked city treated at the urgent care centers with staff to look into incentives that could whom they were partnering,” Coffman bring more urgent care services to explained. As a result, only a small per- neighborhoods with limited access to centage of patients could be diverted to acute care facilities. urgent care centers and, of those who “Urgent care centers are tradition- did, many were declined or eventually ally located somewhere near emergen- rerouted to an emergency department. cy rooms,” Richardson pointed out. “If The pilot project also identified a you look at a map of our city and where larger issue with urgent care centers our urgent care centers exist, there are as an alternative to emergency depart- some large glaring gaps.” In an effort ments: they’re not licensed by the state. to close those gaps, Richardson asked “So it’s not like a hospital, where you city staff to come up with incentives for can say: if you’re licensed by the State urgent care providers to open centers of California as a hospital, you have to in these underserved communities and provide these certain services and any keep them open after hours to maxi- hospital should be able to provide them. mize utilization. “We would take a lot Urgent care, it’s not regulated, so there’s of pressure off our emergency rooms, if

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(Continued from Page 7) emergency needs, Roberson said CNA requirements for alternate destinations report within 120 days and said she will supports efforts to set up rapid medical and new emergency response protocols. be meeting with residents and stakeholder paramedicine, according to Stephanie evaluation systems and add drug and al- “In terms of overcoming opposition or on the issue in the coming weeks. “The Roberson, the association’s director cohol counselors to emergency depart- concern, I think it’s really [about] shin- more efficiently we can provide services of government affairs. “With respect ments. “Our members obviously feel the ing a spotlight on the data and sitting and and program linkages, the more we can to the post-discharge pilot, it hasn’t pressure too,” she said. “But there’s got talking with people,” she said. assure tax dollars are being spent most gone well,” she said. “The point of the to be a way for us to institute policy that For Long Beach to implement a pilot effectively,” Mungo noted. “I’m just ask- post-discharge pilot is to reduce the rate balances the health and welfare of the program, city staff would have to select ing for a review of the possibilities, not of rehospitalization. That has not hap- patient, and making sure that hospitals one or several community paramedicine necessarily proposing any one of them at pened.” run in a more efficient manner. We’re concepts to implement, draw up a pro- this time.” According to Coffman’s Febru- all for that, but not at the detriment of tocol for the responding agencies and ary 2019 update, patients with chronic our patients.” submit an application to EMSA. The ap- conditions enrolled in all five post-dis- As for community paramedicine, plication may take several months to be charge, short-term follow-up programs Roberson said CNA will continue to approved, and EMSA’s current waiver Assemblymember showed lower 30-day readmission rates oppose any bill that aims to implement runs out in November. than historically recorded at participat- some or all of the concepts currently Additionally, legislative efforts to O’Donnell Discusses ing hospitals. The report further stated tested in California. “We oppose this move community paramedicine out of (Continued from Page 1) that the project saved approximately across the board,” she said. “OSHPD the pilot phase and change the state law $1.3 million in potential medical costs, has extended these pilots over and over on paramedic’s scope of practice are un- committee, a subcommittee on educa- most of which would accrue to Medi- again. To what end? When do we call it derway. “For Long Beach to file an appli- tion funding, the committee on trans- care, as well as potentially saving hos- and say: this should not be implemented cation today, without knowing what the portation and the committee on public pitals fees on excessive readmissions. statewide?” outcome of regulations or legislation is employment and retirement. More broadly, Roberson said, mem- going to be, is a risk,” Lou Meyer, who Informed by over 20 years of expe- bers of CNA are concerned about the What’s The Future Of The manages the community paramedicine rience in the classroom, O’Donnell is safety of their patients, mainly be- Project? pilot program for EMSA, told the Busi- outspoken about his views on education cause they aren’t confident in paramed- ness Journal. and what California should do to make ics’ ability to correctly assess medical If legislators did decide to implement According to Long Beach Fire Chief sure the next generation is prepared for needs on the spot. “No disrespect to the new scope of practice for paramedics Xavier Espino and Health and Human the future. But as a long-term politi- the profession – that is paramedics and statewide, there would still be plenty of Services Director Kelly Colopy, both cal leader on the state and local level EMT– we do not believe that they have work to do, Shewry said. “Once the scope agencies are interested in exploring their – O’Donnell served on the Long Beach the education and training necessary to of practice is embraced by the legislature options, but have not arrived at any rec- City Council before he was elected to perform what we believe are primary as appropriate, there will be a whole se- ommendation yet. “Community para- represent Assembly District 70 – the care functions,” she explained. ries of policy questions that need to be medicine for us is an interesting alterna- California legislator has also spear- Instead of rerouting patients to alter- resolved,” she noted. Questions would tive, but we still need to research it quite a headed projects such as the San Pe- nate destinations that might not be suit- include funding sources for additional bit,” Espino said. dro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Study ed to treat the full scope of a patient’s hours worked by paramedics, staffing Councilmember Mungo requested a (commonly referred to as the “break-

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water study”) and efforts to increase see what changes we can make to facil- part of that. We’re looking at reviving with that money, because I want to make sustainability around the nation’s bus- itate cleaner water and potentially wave it in some form. But we have to be very sure it is used effectively. . . . [Building] iest ports. O’Donnell intends to run for activity. We need to make sure that fiscally prudent about how we do that a homeless center in North Long Beach – re-election in March 2020. maritime trade is protected, the homes because we’re a day closer to our next actually almost in the City of Paramount In late March, the halfway point of on the peninsula are protected – and recession. The state can’t just go out and above the 91 [Freeway] – in three-and- his current term, Long Beach Business there’s also oil operations out there that spend all this money on housing. . . . a-half years, that’s not an immediate Journal Publisher George Economides, we can’t put in danger. I’m fully cogni- Everybody points at the state. I’m point- response to a homelessness problem. Editor Samantha Mehlinger and Staff zant of that. I haven’t been involved in ing the finger at the cities. We’ve got a We need more beds. We can’t enforce Writer Alena Maschke interviewed this study for the last five years. This is city council – they can rezone proper- our overnight camping laws because we O’Donnell about the region’s most in the hands of the city. . . .The Navy ty where appropriate. We went through don’t have the beds. But other cities in pressing issues. should be part of this exercise. It should that exercise recently, about a year-and- the region need to do their part, too. Seal LBBJ: Now that an interim deal has be in conversations with all these folks a-half ago, to facilitate the construction Beach can’t be pushing their folks into been reached for Community Hospital, too. . . . of more housing. They can break down Long Beach – we need to watch that. are you working on legislation to extend Let me be clear: I wouldn’t spend a the barriers, the red tape. Now, the folks from San Francisco, the deadline for seismic compliance? bunch of money on this effort if I al- LBBJ: Do you think that overall, the assemblymembers, the senate mem- O’Donnell: We’re working on two ready knew it’s not going to happen. So housing is an issue that can be tackled bers, come up with some pretty radical things. There’s AB [Assembly Bill] it’s my hope that the city leaders are in just by legislating and regulating? ideas. I don’t want to San Francisco-ize 1014, which speaks to hospital closure direct communication with the Army O’Donnell: There’s a lot of things the State of California. We need to be notice requirements. Because in this Corps. . . . Some of the reports of how that need to happen. Remember, when careful. I don’t think we should allow scenario, if we had more notice that they communicated, I found curious. we talk about housing, there’s a couple every homeowner in the City of Long they were going to close I think we I’ll be honest with you. . . . of things going on. We’ve got homeless- Beach, by right, to bulldoze their home could have done something sooner on LBBJ: A lot of people tie you to the ness – that’s part of our housing issue. and build a five-story apartment build- a much tighter timeline. Basically, Me- project. We’ve got . . . individuals that also have ing in neighborhoods. That’s not an ap- morial[Care Health System] said: “Hey, O’Donnell: I understand that, and substance abuse problems or mental proach I favor. What I’d like to see the we’re going to leave.” They gave a very they probably should, because I was the problems. And then there’s the afford- state do is set the bar and then assist short notice and they left. They were al- one who kicked it off. I did the kick-off, ability issue. That’s where I’m looking at cities in meeting that bar – but not nec- lowed to do that under state law, but I and now the ball is in their hands. I hope my kids. This is a two-part issue: there’s essarily micromanaging how cities meet think there should be a more protracted that they’re going to be responsible. . . . the homelessness side and there’s the that bar. time period. If the city knows that this isn’t going to affordability side. We need to focus on On, homelessness. I do have a bill. Now, there’s the potential for anoth- happen, I would hope that they wouldn’t those two fronts. And we’ve done a lot AB 1384 . . . allows mortgage brokers to er assembly bill that will speak specif- spend more money. If they know this on homelessness. compile up to $4.5 million of non-bank ically to the Community Hospital site. project isn’t going to happen, they need The State of California gives the City money to build or rehabilitate housing. It may speak to extending the seismic to be public with that. Don’t just say of Long Beach a lot of money every year. Right now, state law caps it, I believe, at timeline. . . . It would increase the time- things to make us happy and kick the We gave them $12 million more this $2.5 million. This is a no-brainer. Right line for them to develop their hospital can down the road. Deal with it today. budget year to address homelessness. now we have no opposition. plan and then put it in the hands of the If they have information that speaks to I’m watching closely to see what they do (Please Continue to Page 10) state. There was a law passed last year them not being able to reconfigure the that spoke to about 200 hospitals across breakwater, they need to come public the State of California . . . but Long with that information now. Beach is likely not included in that bill. LBBJ: What do you think about So it may require a separate bill this Governor Newsom’s approach to hous- year. And if there is a need, I will push ing so far? for it. O’Donnell: Well, first of all, I ap- LBBJ: That’s got to be done pretty preciate his acknowledgement that quickly, doesn’t it? housing is a huge concern in the State of O’Donnell: Correct. We’re talking California. I know he’s suing the City of to the city. We’re waiting for the in- Huntington Beach. I don’t know the par- formation we need to move on this, if ticulars on that lawsuit. My assumption in fact we do need to move. They’ve is they didn’t hit their RHNA [Regional got to seal their deal before we push Housing Needs Assessment] numbers, through with a bill, because it’s going their regional allocation numbers that JOIN US FOR LUNCH to be tough for me to push a bill through they need to hit. What I will say is, in without knowing that there is a deal. Huntington Beach they have been build- (We open at 11:00) LBBJ: So you’re waiting for a long- ing a lot more multi-family housing. . term agreement rather than just the in- . . What I want to make sure we do is terim deal? we support cities as they try to provide O’Donnell: Correct. And that may more housing, not micromanage cities. Bring in your friends and co-workers, change. We’re watching this. This is We shouldn’t be zoning from the Sac- order more than 2 entrees like an evolving, daily event, where we ramento level. My votes reflect that. I’m check in with the city [and ask], what supportive of a reasonable amount of and get 20% off your tab. do we need to do? In fact, I do need to money to support cities to build afford- check in with the Molinas [partners in able housing. We can’t fund it all from (Discount on food only, must bring this ad. Molina, Wu, Network LLC, the new the state level; we don’t have that kind offer good 11:00 am – 3:00 pm M–F only) hospital operator] to see where they are of money. Ultimately, the market is go- on this as well. ing to drive the solution. So we need to LBBJ: We wrote an article a few create the conditions where the market Kitchen open Monday – Friday: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm months back about the breakwater can provide the solutions. A lot of this is study that the U.S. Army Corps of En- going to have to happen at the city level. Limited late night menu Fridays and Saturdays: 10:00 – 11:00 pm gineers is working on. Apparently, the Quite frankly, the cities should be look- Navy thinks if you reconfigure it at all, ing at what pieces of property they have Breakfast Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm it’s going to make it impossible for them available to build housing on and what to continue their operations. I wanted to can they do to facilitate the construction know what your thoughts are. Do you of housing across our cities. New look, new website! support reconfiguring the breakwater? There’s a lot of pieces that created EJsPubBK.com O’Donnell: I support studying this problem, but first and foremost, it’s breakwater reconfiguration. I’m not a the amount of people we have in this re- 4306 Atlantic Avenue, “sink the breakwater” guy as much as gion. It’s a simple supply and demand 562-424-5000 Long Beach, CA 90807 I am a “study the breakwater” guy, to equation. Redevelopment going away is NEWSWATCH 10 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

legislator need to be very careful of. I’m very protective of the state legislature. I council a lot of members about the role of the legislative branch and not hand- ing over too much authority to the exec- utive branch. . . . I hope going forward that the governor doesn’t think that us- ing the executive order is a way to out- run the will of the people or the role of the state legislature. So I’m watching it closely. LBBJ: Democrats have a superma- jority in the state legislature. What’s your impression about the attitude of working across the aisle with the mi- nority? O’Donnell: I’m always willing to work across the aisle, as are many of my colleagues. In this environment, we’re going to see. It’s the beginning of the session still. There haven’t been a lot of votes on the floor. I hope that we will work with the other side in a responsi- ble fashion when we can come to some (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.) kind of compromise or agreement. But there’s no doubt that it’s going to be tough in a two-thirds [majority] en- (Continued from Page 9) is the cleanest way to go, one. And two, for a port efficiency program to reduce vironment. Remember, many of these it’s readily available. We do not have a truck times at the terminal level. And bills don’t require a two-thirds vote. So, LBBJ: What are your thoughts on viable electric truck at this point. . . . [it] incentivizes terminals to further we’ll see how that dynamic unfolds as the proposed carbon sales tax on retail So we need to make sure that we’re fu- reduce their turn times at the gate, be- the year moves forward. business? el-neutral. Maybe hydrogen is the way. cause isn’t just about clean trucks; it’s LBBJ: What would you say are the O’Donnell: I think cap-and-trade is Maybe it’s some other form. What I about efficiency, about volumes, about biggest challenges faced by state legis- adequate. If operated responsibly, and it want to make sure is if we’re going to velocity. . . . It’s an economic issue, but lature at the moment? continues to be funded adequately and regulate, we should innovate. And my it’s also an environmental issue. O’Donnell: Also those that are allocated properly, it is the right tool. job is to make sure that we don’t have LBBJ: Governor Newsom an- faced by the State of California. I Cap-and-trade should not be used as a green poverty – that we don’t regulate nounced that he wants to get rid of the would say making sure that we have a handout gift to people. Cap-and-trade industry out of this area. That’s what death penalty. What are your thoughts balanced and responsible budget [and] is designed to lower greenhouse gas cap-and-trade is for. It is designed to on that, considering that the voters just making sure that we’re not building emissions, and the dollars associated partner with the industry to go green. said three years ago that they wanted to ongoing expenditures that we can’t af- with that effort should be doled out as LBBJ: So you’re saying, let’s not keep it? ford as we get closer to the next reces- such. In other words, cap-and-trade hyper-focus on electric technology – O’Donnell: I’ve always been torn sion. The California budget is different shouldn’t be for me to build a park in let’s make sure we’re innovating? on the death penalty. I don’t hide that. than local government budgets or the my assembly district and put my name O’Donnell: Right. Let’s hyper-focus I see why the governor did it – because federal budget in that we’re very re- on it. Cap-and-trade should be directed on the goal as opposed to how we get to it’s going to come time very soon when flective of about 20 people’s incomes down at the port, which continues to be the goal. One of the problems with the he would have to make such a decision . . . because there’s a ZIP code in Palo our largest single source of pollution – carbon tax is they try to micromanage as to whether or not to use the death Alto that feeds the State of California that, by the way, has done great work in how we get to that goal. . . . The point penalty in the State of California. I also $1 billion a year. What happens when going greener. But I will say we should is, these dollars should be associated see why families in the State of Cali- capital gains go down, when the econ- make green while we go green. with meeting a specific regulation. . . fornia who have been victims would be omy goes down, is those moneys dry LBBJ: We talked about that may- . I wouldn’t just hand somebody a bag very frustrated. And I also see that the up overnight. . . . I think [Gov.] Jerry be two years ago and you were saying of money and say, “spend it how you people of California just voted, in es- Brown did a decent job of controlling that there was too much money going to want.” There has to be regulations and sence, to support the death penalty. This the ongoing expenditures. What we’ve these community projects or to people metrics associated with that. One of my is a tough question the governor was been doing. . . .[is to] fund multi-year buying Priuses. Are more of the dollars biggest challenges with the California faced with. Given where the politics of efforts on a one-time basis. We say, being allocated where they need to go? Air Resources Board is they get a big the country are going, I don’t think the “we’ll give this much money for three O’Donnell: I think we’re getting bucket of money, and what they can’t do death penalty is as popular as it once years of this program,” so that when there. We’re not exactly where we is associate each regulation with a met- was. It’s a tough call for him to make. the next budget downturn comes, it’s need to be. The place that is the largest ric. Some of this stuff is experimental. I don’t have the perfect answer on the easier to cut back on those programs. source of pollution in Southern Califor- It’s not always going to work. I’m okay death penalty, but I can tell you this: if I Number two is closing the achieve- nia is the port complex – that’s where with it not working. I just think that if had a loved one murdered, I’d want the ment gap within our school system. those dollars should go. They should we’re going to spend money on this ef- death penalty. California students are doing better go to goods movement, because that’s fort, we should have a metric associated LBBJ: But isn’t there a difference than they ever have; don’t let anyone the driver of greenhouse gas and carbon with that effort. And we can’t do that. between what your opinion is about the fool you. . . . At the same time, we have emissions. . . . I’m the voice of the ports That’s one of my major criticisms of death penalty and what the voters said? some students who have more chal- up in Sacramento. When we talk about that agency. . . . O’Donnell: Let me speak to that. lenges. We know that those are typi- transportation, everybody in the room What I’m seeking to do is get a con- California needs to be very careful that cally associated with income status, talks about moving people. I’m the guy tinuous appropriation from cap-and- we don’t do what we’re accusing Trump language capacity and other family that raises his hand and says, “I want trade to the goods movement commu- of doing. You don’t fight Trump by be- dynamics. We need to figure out how to move containers.” That’s my job. So nity. . . . We need to be wise about how ing Trump. You never win. I think there to close that achievement gap. What again, cap-and-trade is working. Is it we regulate these guys. These are good is a little bit of irony that California I found as a teacher in the classroom the perfect animal? No. But am I will- jobs. We want to keep them here. It’s an would say Donald Trump is overusing who lived the achievement gap is ing to support a carbon tax today? No. economic driver. What I’ve proposed is the executive order, yet it appears that there’s no switch you can flip. We’re Let cap-and-trade mature and saturate, AB 1262. The goal there is to create a the governor has just done something trying to figure this out, and we hav- and I’m supportive of it. continuous appropriation from cap-and- very similar. I suspect that there will en’t figured it out. We tried a number . . . I’m ok with electric [vehicles trade for clean goods movement. And be lawsuits that speak to this very ques- of different things that haven’t worked. and technology as a solution to move then I’ve got AB 821, which seeks to tion. . . .The real question is: is this go- But slowly, too slowly, we’re closing it. towards zero-emissions]. As long as it draw down an existing bucket of money ing to happen again? That’s what I as a (Please Continue to Page 12)

NEWSWATCH 12 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

(Continued from Page 10) way up to cities that none of us have ever Beach are for it. Some councilmembers you can build a new city hall within the been to. . . . Shouldn’t a city this size are for it. span of two-and-a-half years, why is it At the same time, we need to offer have its own representative up there? O’Donnell: No one has been able to taking you six years to build a new pool? more opportunity for kids. I’m a firm O’Donnell: In a perfect case sce- compel me to take a second look at that. LBBJ: Is there anything that you believer that we need multiple paths to nario, Long Beach would have one state LBBJ: Do you like the fact that would like to add? success. Career technical education is a senator. And as we move into the redis- Long Beach now is going to follow the O’Donnell: I think I bring a balanced big deal to me. I was in a high school tricting process – which is starting to state election system, where we have perspective to Sacramento. I represent a where I saw kids fall off the path of begin, because right after the Census, our city council primaries in March and district that has a lot of people [and] a lot high school success because they didn’t they hand it off to the commission – the then, eight months later, runoffs if there of industry, and I think I bring a balance have something to engage them there. lines will be redrawn for 2022. So in are runoffs? to make sure we go green, but people Typically, it was career technical educa- 2020, they’ll stay the same, 2022 they’ll O’Donnell: No, I voted against that make green. And people care about their tion. I’m a huge voice for that in Sacra- change. bill. Why? Because I think having city kids’ schools – I bring that focus. mento. We need more money to rebuild LBBJ: What would you say have elections off-cycle brings a certain focus By the way, there are a lot of bad those programs. . . . Also, when I talk been some of your bigger successes as on what’s going on in the city, and my public safety bills that are up this year. about education, I mean higher educa- a legislator? worry is that this is going to be lost. That People want to blame everything on the tion. How do we keep it affordable? . . . O’Donnell: I’d say it’s increasing primary is way too long. cop. . . . A real bad bill passed last year. . What we’ve done is create a dynamic, funding for public education as well LBBJ: It’s going to be fundraising There’s another one that’s before us this too, where a teacher’s responsible for as promoting more career technical for eight months. year that I suspect will get through too, the students’ success. And often there education/vocational education. We’re O’Donnell: That’s the problem: the that I think is unfortunate. are many dynamics that go into a stu- rebooting that effort. It’s just going to fundraising component. Long Beach LBBJ: What bill was that? dent being successful. take some time. There’s a lot of capacity doesn’t need to be a mini-Sacramento. O’Donnell: Last year, it was SB LBBJ: Going down to the local lev- that has to be built up in a lot of differ- My fear is with all the fundraising go- 1421. This year it’s a bill by Shirley Web- el, what do you think are some of the ent schools across the state for different ing on at the city council level over the ber, which has to do with use of force. most pressing issues of the Long Beach programs. I would say that’s my key is- past couple of years, it is becoming a It basically requires the police officer to community at the moment, and how do sue, key success thus far. mini-Sacramento. . . . They changed the go through a checklist of options before you plan to address these issues? LBBJ: You’ve also crossed party rules with regards to fundraising, the they use their weapon. These scenarios O’Donnell: Certainly, housing is lines. timelines. You can now fundraise much typically happen in a very quick fashion. a key issue. Clean air is a key issue. O’Donnell: I’m not a guaranteed earlier. The approach we had in the past . . . To charge an officer because they Transportation is an issue. The health vote. was much more responsible. . . . sought to save their life is unfortunate. of the ports is an issue. I come from lo- LBBJ: What was the big issue about LBBJ: What do you think about the LBBJ: You support body cameras cal government. I was born in this city. a year ago that you were opposed to? Belmont Pool? for all officers? I bring the Long Beach perspective to O’Donnell: [A pilot program to O’Donnell: I don’t know why it O’Donnell: I think it should be the Sacramento, and it’s my job to be the keep Long Beach bars open until] 4 hasn’t been built. It should be done. . . . local department’s policy to have body voice of Long Beach up in Sacramento. a.m.? I’m voting no again.. . . .It’s just It’s all about priorities. If the city council cameras. Do I think the state should I think I do a good job of that. not a well thought-out, responsible ap- finds the pool to be a priority, they will mandate that every department has cam- LBBJ: Long Beach doesn’t have its proach to public policy. find the money. There’s a variety of - fi eras? No. But at least say we give money own state senator. It stretches all the LBBJ: Well, some people in Long nancial mechanisms they can use. . . . If to cities to buy cameras.

Madsen, along with other tenant ad- vocates, spoke out in favor of relocation Divided City Council Votes To payments starting at $4,500 for all units and tenants of all income levels, one op- tion laid out in the report. City staff had Create Tenancy Regulations recommended a different option: pay- ments equal to two months’ rent for a By ALENA MASCHKE similar unit size within the tenants’ ZIP Staff Writer code for households earning up to 120% of the area median income (AMI). “The flat fee is the most equitable When the Long Beach City Coun- to the council to represent owners ordinance is too broad and needs to be way to provide assistance to displaced cil met to discuss a staff proposal on of small properties, noted that vot- more focused on the identified issue.” tenants,” Madsen argued. “It’s broad tenant assistance policies during its ers had rejected measures to expand National Short Term Rental Found- and simple applicability compared to regular April 2 meeting, a line of pub- rent control at the state level. While er and CEO Johanna Cunningham also the other options, reduces the burden lic speakers snaked out of the council the staff recommendations did not spoke out against the proposed ordi- of monitoring and enforcement on the chamber doors and audience seating explicitly include rent control provi- nance. “While I can empathize with city staff, and does the most to achieve was packed to the brim. The long-await- sions, rent increases of 10% or more renters in the context that moving is what renter protection policies should ed report summarized staff engagement would trigger monetary relocation as- hard, that burden should not be placed do: prevent homelessness by keeping efforts with tenant and landlord advo- sistance for tenants within certain in- on the owner’s back to supplement that people in their homes and preserve the cates following a city council request to come parameters. “These programs. . move,” Cunningham said. Additionally, community that makes up our beloved, draft rental policies that would improve . will greatly affect our business and she argued, the ordinance may end up diverse city.” housing security in Long Beach. the ability for us to continue to pro- hurting one of the groups it set out to Christine Petit, executive director of During the six-hour meeting, jeers vide low-income housing to our rent- protect: seniors, who rely on rental in- Long Beach Forward and a member of and cheers hailed down on public ers,” she said. come to fund their retirement. “Those the city’s Everyone Home Long Beach speakers from both sides of the debate. Evan Hromadka, assistant vice owners, when they purchased the units, task force set up to combat homeless- Supporters of the proposed ordinance president of investments at Equity were and still are relying on that in- ness, agreed with Madsen. Petit said argued that it would help curb home- Residential, a real estate investment come to supplement their own security, she was confident that the ordinance lessness and create a more equitable trust that he said owns “a few hundred health care and retirement,” she told the would help prevent homelessness. “For relationship between landlords and units in Long Beach,” urged the city city council. our communities, time is of the essence. their tenants. Those opposing city staff council not to rush into a decision on Many landlords argued that they We urge you to pass a strong policy to- recommendations argued that require- the proposal. “Although Equity Res- had no motivation to evict good tenants night,” she said. After Tuesday’s 6-3 ments to provide tenants with reloca- idential supports the city’s endeavor and only increased rents to cover their vote in favor of the item, however, the tion assistance payments would equate to alleviate pressures created by the costs. Peter Madsen, an organizer with city council is still several steps away to rent control and put an undue burden regional housing shortage, we must the tenant advocacy group Long Beach from passing an actual ordinance. The on property owners. take more time before advancing pol- Residents Empowered (LiBRE), argued vote only acknowledged that the report A landlord who introduced herself icies that will be counterproductive,” that the proposed regulations wouldn’t has been received and directed staff to as Judith Elizabeth and said she came he said. “The scope of this proposed stand in the way of that. create an ordinance. NEWSWATCH Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019 - 13

Bodell’s Family Shoes Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Lewis Bodell opened Bodell’s Family Shoes in what is now called Parkview Village on March 1, 1959. “We have been on the street for 60 years,” Lew- is’s son and current owner of the business, Richard Bodell, pic- tured, said. Although originally located down the street, Bodell’s moved to its current location at 4190 N. Viking Way a half a block away in the early 1970s. In all the years it has served East Long Beach, Bodell’s has prid- ed itself on selling comfortable footwear. “I try to emphasize products either from the U.S., Europe or Israel. We’re old school sit-and-fit, so we sit down and measure feet and ask ques- tions regarding issues with feet.” He added, “We’ve had to stick with that niche in order to differ- entiate ourselves from the com- petition.” To learn more about Bodell’s, visit shoesrx.com.

Councilmembers Lena Gonzalez, scheduled revision of the ordinance with- Still, he argued that the city has a re- owners. “There is a rental class that Jeannine Pearce, Dee Andrews, Rober- in three years of implementation. sponsibility to remedy the results of has been systematically kept out of to Uranga, Al Austin and Rex Richard- Suzie Price, one of the three coun- past policies, such as redlining, that the ownership process,” Richardson son voted to follow staff recommen- cilmembers who voted against the item, have historically excluded non-white said. “This is the city’s business; we dations, with some amendments. Staff said she received 155 emails from con- Americans from becoming property have to have these conversations.” recommended the amount of relocation stituents urging her to oppose the pro- payments be based on the Long Beach posal. Price said she supported some Housing Authority’s payment standards aspects of the proposed ordinance, in- for a similar-sized unit in the tenant’s cluding the controversial rent increase current ZIP code. The city council mo- trigger point for relocation payments. tion asked for payments to be based “I think it is unfair for rents to be in- on the average “small area fair market creased above 10%. I absolutely do,” rent” across all Long Beach ZIP codes, she said. One of her main concerns with a cap of $4,500. pertained to the general spirit of the The council also asked staff to draft proposal. “There’s an assumption that regulations that would entitle all qualify- people who own property have $4,000 ing tenants to relocation payments, regard- to give for relocation,” she said. “That less of their income. Other amendments assumption is not fair. It may be true for included: a minimum tenancy of one year some, but it’s not true for everyone.” to qualify for assistance, an exemption Richardson said he understood both for live-in landlords and landlords own- sides. “I grew up as a renter, but I am ing one four-unit building or fewer, and a a landlord as well. So, I understand.”

PROPERTY INFORMATION

 An approx. 3,627 sq. ft.  12’ clear height freestanding building  Two (2) ground level doors

 Auto repair facility  220 single phase power

 Other uses maybe considered  28,600 traffic count

Do Not Disturb Tenant CANNABIS AND BREWERY ZONED BOR License # 01359006

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

INCO Commercial Realty, Inc. John Rendon Anthony Gonzalez 6621 E. Pacific Coast Hwy. #280 Dir: (562) 296-1314 Dir: (562) 296-1311 Long Beach, CA 90803 Cell: (562) 714-1118 Cell: (562) 754-6524 [email protected] [email protected] (562) 498-3395 main DRE License # 01390904 DRE License # 02052380

The information contained herein was obtained from third parties, and has not been independently verified by real estate brokers. Buyers and Tenants should have experts of their choice inspect the property and verify all information. Real Estate Brokers are not qualified to act as or select experts with respect to legal, tax environmental, building construction, soil drainage or other such matters.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT 16 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

Largest Marijuana Dispensary In The City Opens Its Doors Real Estate & Development By BRANDON RICHARDSON Senior Writer

Sleep Number Announced As Future LBX Tenant

The Circle, Long Beach’s newest and largest marijuana dispensary, opened its doors on March 1 and has seen consistent business ever since, according to co-own- ers Justin Suitor, left, and Cliff Harrison. “We saw well over a thousand people on the first day and then about 700 people the second day,” Harrison said. “That was very impressive, and it’s been a steady flow of people coming through the door since. We’ve been very well received by the neighborhood.” Located at 1755 Ximeno Ave. near the traffic circle, the dispensary will soon double as a cultivation facility, with plants visible to shoppers in the retail store. The total footprint of the building is about 11,000 square feet, according to Suitor and Harrison. The addition of a mez- zanine on the retail side and multi-tiered growing capabilities on the cultivation side bring the total amount of usable space closer to 22,000 square feet, they explained. The City of Long Beach has specific zoning laws for marijuana businesses that vary depending on the type of use – dispensary, cultivation, distribution or testing. Ac- cording to Suitor and Harrison, on maps denoting where each use is permitted, their location was a “tiny little speck” that allowed for both the cultivation and sale of Construction has begun on the final pad at Long Beach Exchange (LBX), with marijuana. Due to strict regulations requiring marijuana products to be tested prior Sleep Number announced as the future tenant. “We are excited to report that we have to being sold, Suitor explained that marijuana grown at The Circle would be sent to officially broken ground on the last component of LBX,” Burnham-Ward Properties an offsite testing facility before returning to the store for sale. As cultivation has not Partner Steve Thorp said in an e-mail to the Business Journal. “Upon the completion begun, The Circle currently sells products from numerous growers. In the future, of the final building, construction of Long Beach Exchange will be complete, with only Harrison said it is likely the dispensary would continue selling some products from minor tenant improvements remaining. We are looking forward to an official grand other sources, but that it would also focus on in-house products to ultimately build opening this summer.” Located on the southeastern-most corner of the East Long a brand that could be sold in other dispensaries. Suitor and Harrison noted that they Beach retail center, the 2,800-square-foot building is expected to be completed in late have gone above and beyond required security. During operating hours, The Circle June, with the Sleep Number store opening in August. The approved site plan for the has an armed security guard; after hours, private security periodically checks on pad includes a drive-through, which Burnham-Ward is constructing for future use, the facility, and camera surveillance is monitored around-the-clock by an outside despite the lane going unused by Sleep Number. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.) agency. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.)

$14.7M Science Building Renovation Completed At LBCC Credit Union Receives Warm Long Beach Welcome

Los Alamitos-based Southland Credit Union celebrated the grand opening of its first Long Beach branch on April 6. Located at 2250 N. Bellflower Blvd., the credit Long Beach City College staff, trustees and faculty celebrated the completion of union opened its doors on December 31, according to manager Herman Lopez, pic- more than $14 million in renovations to Building D at the college’s Liberal Arts Cam- tured at the Long Beach branch. “It has been really good for our members. It’s such pus. Building D is home to new health and science laboratories, including for anato- a beautiful, brand new space, as soon as they walk in it’s like a whole experience and my, radiology, medical assisting and microbiology. The renovation was funded with they love it,” Lopez told the Business Journal, noting that Southland has many mem- Measure E Bond dollars, $616 million of which was allocated for capital improvement bers residing in Long Beach. The Long Beach branch is the sixth location Southland projects on both of the college’s campuses. Pictured from left: LBCC Superinten- has opened since it was founded in 1936. The new branch has already embraced the dent-President Reagan Ferrragamo Romali; LBCC Executive Vice President of Aca- community by becoming the official credit union for the athletics department of Cal- demic Affairs Dr. Kathy Scott; LBCC Vice President of Business Services Marlene ifornia State University, Long Beach. According to Angela Ratzlaff, public relations Drinkwine; LBCC Board of Trustees President Sunny Zia; and LBCC Board of Trust- specialist for Southland, the branch will continue to engage with and be an active ees Vice President Vivian Malauulu. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.) member of the Long Beach community. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.) REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019 - 17

“We are committed to supporting holds earning between 30% and 50% will be a tenant council and a resident more projects that are affordable . . . of the area’s median income, as well as services coordinator to plan resident so- Building A that support residents who may have one manager’s apartment. cial activities like movie nights, classes special needs, and that help us achieve Half of the units are reserved for and parties – things to help build com- our goal of eliminating street homeless- persons with chronic health conditions munity among the residents.” Better Long ness,” Mayor Robert Garcia said during who have experienced homelessness, Aside from community spaces, on- the ceremony. “This is a shining exam- while the other half are for large fami- site parking, bike storage, edible gar- ple of projects that we welcome in the lies. Combined, the two-building devel- den planters, a community room with Beach City of Long Beach. What’s exciting opment includes 22 one-bedroom units, a kitchen, a courtyard and a laundry about this project is its mission to assist 13 two-bedroom units and 13 three-bed- room, the development will house sup- By BRANDON RICHARDSON people experiencing homelessness and room units on floors two through five. port services for residents on the ground Senior Writer to provide a platform for families to re- Apartments reserved for L.A. County floors. Mental Health America of Los build their lives.” Department of Health Services clients Angeles is stationing full-time staff on For the second time last month, the Located at 1850 Locust Ave. just with chronic health conditions will be site to assist residents with case man- Long Beach community gathered to north of Pacific Coast Highway, the af- fully furnished. agement to meet their individualized celebrate the groundbreaking of an af- fordable housing project is transit-ori- “We are basically providing every- needs, Okeke said. Services include, but fordable-housing development in Mid- ented near the Metro Blue Line on Long thing that clients need individually,” are not limited to: therapy, job and life town – Clifford Beers Housing’s (CBH) Beach Boulevard. The development CBH Communications Manager Claire skills development, transportation and Vistas del Puerto. consists of 47 units reserved for house- Okeke told the Business Journal. “There health treatments.

Vistas del Puerto was one of two affordable housing developments to break ground in Midtown last month. The Clifford Beers Housing (CBH) project consists of two five-story buildings with a total of 47 affordable units and one manager’s unit located at 1850 Locust Ave. Pictured from left: John Thomas, chairman of the Long Beach Community Investment Company; Tom De Simone, president/CEO of Genesis LA; Norma Dominguez, vice president of Wells Fargo Bank; Christina Miller, president/CEO of Mental Health America of Los Angeles; Mayor Robert Garcia; Herlinda Chico, field deputy for L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn; Kathleen Blesser, CBH resident; Isabel Arvea, chief of staff for Vice Mayor Dee Andrews; Cristian Ahumada, executive director of CBH; Mark Rasmussen, chairman of CBH. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson, rendering courtesy of CBH.) Realty Views: Is Bigger Better When It Comes To Homes? By TERRY ROSS

Bigger is not necessarily better when it comes to selling a home in these times, as from their purchasing power as well. And buying a larger home and having to reno- a definite shift in tastes, economics and lifestyles have combined to alter the demand vate would even get more expensive. from larger residences to more affordable – and practical – purchases than we were Reports also indicate that these new, younger homeowners would rather drive seeing a decade or two ago. longer distances to work rather than pay exorbitant prices in the cities for these There are several factors that go into this trend that are very different from even larger, older homes. This has revitalized some suburban communities. Many Mil- 15 years ago, when financing was easier, the cost of everything was lower, and before lennials are even moving to or near suburban locations for lower rents and to save the housing and banking meltdown that has really played a major role in shaping money for a down payment on a home. But that can also be a struggle, since rents today’s situation. have increased by 46% from the 1960s to 2000, when adjusted for inflation, ac- In the early 2000’s, Baby Boomers built and/or bought larger, elaborate homes cording to Student Loan Hero. The current median U.S. rent, according to Zillow, – especially in the Southern sunshine states. Now, many of those same people are is $1,650. looking to downsize, possibly move and go smaller as well – and find that the mar- So, what has happened is that an entire class of homes has fallen out of favor ket is not as strong for larger homes. On the other hand, the younger home-buying for the two largest home-buying demographics – the Baby Boomers and the Mil- generation – mostly Millennials – are many times looking for smaller homes, lower lennials – for different reasons. The Baby Boomers have outgrown the need (and in prices and more modern designs, and shy away from the dated and ornate styles of some cases no longer have the income) for the larger homes, while the Millennials the larger homes of a generation ago. many times have different needs and tastes and are looking for smaller and many Design trends that are no longer as popular today are homes with crown mold- times more practical homes. ings, Mediterranean or Tuscan-style architecture. Younger buyers tend to favor clean This problem is expected to worsen in the 2020s, as more Baby Boomers across lines and more open floor plans – not to mention the newly-built houses that include the country advance into their 70s and 80s and exit or change homeownership due built-in, tech-ready features and energy efficiency lights and appliances already to poor health or death, according to a 2018 Fannie Mae report, “The Coming Ex- built-in. odus of Older Homeowners.” Baby Boomers currently own 32 million homes and “You had this wave of homes built that now just don’t make sense for a lot of account for two out of five homeowners in the country. the people who bought them,” noted Rick Palacios, Jr. of John Burns Real Estate This trend of an older generation moving from a larger home and downsizing Consulting in Irvine. is not new, but the shifting desires, wants and needs of the newer generation of Another harsh economic reality is that Millennials purchasing their first home homebuyers is likely going to create a significant change to the housing market. today are paying on-average 39% more than Baby Boomers who bought their first Terry Ross, the broker-owner of TR Properties, will answer any questions home in the 1980’s – and their income hasn’t increased accordingly to make up for about today’s real estate market. E-mail questions to Realty Views at terryross1@ that. This demographic is also facing a record-level of student debt that takes away cs.com or call (949) 457-4922. GOING GREEN 18 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

Long Beach Celebrates Earth Month 2019 By PIERCE NAHIGYAN Staff Writer

Dr. Jennifer Lentz, education coordinator at the Aquarium of the Pacific, stands before the Aquarium’s interactive watershed exhibit. To celebrate Earth Day, the Aquarium of the Pacific is participating in the City Nature Challenge, an international contest to see which cities can identify the most local species. (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.)

Though observed on April 22, Earth car trips, volunteer at some events, plant is participating in a large beach clean- it’s just impossible.” She clarified that Day has grown beyond a single-day cel- native plants, refuse to use plastics, take up called the TrashBlitz. “We’re part- Algalita and other organizations can im- ebration. In the City of Long Beach and shorter showers or contribute to the nering with one of our colleague orga- prove the environment by picking up the throughout the world, the entire month [city’s] climate action and adaptation nizations, the 5 Gyres Institute, which plastic they find on beaches, but as long of April is devoted to acts of environ- plan,” Courtney Chatterson, communi- is launching a month-long project in as the material continues to be used, it mental veneration: from cleaning up cations specialist for the office of sus- the [Los Angeles] watershed,” Algalita will find its way into the watershed. streets to planting trees and networking tainability, said. Executive Director Katie Allen said. “5 This year marks the 19th annual with sustainable businesses. The Long Residents who sign up for a pledge Gyres” refers to clusters of trash float- Earth Day Festival at the Aquarium of Beach government has created an entire on the sustainability office’s website, ing in the world’s oceans. The project, the Pacific. On the weekend of the 27th, events calendar for Earth Month 2019. longbeach.gov/sustainability, are en- which runs from April to May, intends the Aquarium’s Great Hall will be filled It began on April 5, with the Longview tered into a raffle to win weekly priz- to collect data on how much plastic is with vendors putting on demonstrations Litter Patrol at 2755 Orange Ave., and es, including reusable items to help cut buried or floating in the coastal envi- and information sessions about the envi- ends April 27-28 with the Earth Day down on disposable plastic, hats and ronment, as well as what brands and ronment, the ocean and climate change. Festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific. bike lights contributed by the public types are most represented. This is the sixth year that Aquarium Ed- There is no shortage of neighbor- works department, and plant seeds from Two more nonprofits, Friends of the ucation Coordinator Dr. Jennifer Lentz hoods, nonprofits, city departments the El Dorado Nature Center. L.A. River and the Surfrider Founda- has managed the festival. “I do my best or businesses doing their part to keep As part of its continuing effort to tion, are also participating in the proj- to vary the vendors so we get a variety Long Beach clean and green. As Kath- restore Willow Springs Park, the office ect at other beach locations, Allen said. of environmental booths representing,” leen Rogers, president of the nonprofit of sustainability is also holding a spe- “People are always looking for ways to she said. Earth Day Network, told the Business cial event on April 20 called “Mulch the contribute and volunteer beyond just Honda is exhibiting its Clarity Fuel Journal, “Nobody sits around on Earth Gulch.” From 9 a.m. to noon at 2755 Or- cleaning up, so this is an opportunity Cell, a hydrogen-powered sedan, in the Day. It’s not a self-congratulatory event. ange Ave., volunteers are sought to help for them to actually collect data that Aquarium’s front plaza. The mid-sized It’s a work day. People do Earth Day not spread mulch to fight weeds and beautify will hopefully back some policy.” vehicle contains a hydrogen battery cell by taking a day off but actually doing the park. Chatterson said April is a great At the end of the clean-up, Allen capable of refueling in five minutes. It something to help their community.” time to welcome new volunteers and said Algalita plans to do an education- has a range of over 300 miles, requires Earth Day Network works globally to highlight the projects her office works on al demonstration illustrating how much no electric charging and emits nothing recruit volunteers for Earth Day initia- throughout the year, including an edible plastic has infiltrated the beach. “We but water, according to company speci- tives. More than 1 billion people now garden and native plant workshops. bring these huge sand sifters out. . . . fications. participate each year, according to the “Since it’s a long-standing and es- What we do with these is extract the mi- During the festival, visitors who organization. sentially national recognition, it’s our croplastics out of the sand to show peo- drop off their electronic waste at the In the spirit of Earth Month, the City opportunity to take advantage of peo- ple,” she said. The lesson, she explained, Aquarium receive $10 off adult admis- of Long Beach has created the #Go- ple paying more attention to this stuff,” is no matter how many larger pieces of sions. Accepted items include comput- GreenPledge, which encourages resi- Sustainability Coordinator Larry Rich plastic are removed from the beach, little er monitors, cameras, laptops and cell dents to make a personal commitment said of Earth Month. “We get them to pieces continue to accumulate. phones. Batteries are not accepted, as to conserve resources and reduce waste participate in more things and raise their “Last year when we did this, we had they are classified as hazardous waste. during the month of April. Residents awareness about small things that they Congressman Alan Lowenthal come out, Lentz also prefers that visitors refrain can commit to as many as six pledges can be doing. It’s a busy month for us.” and he was just floored by the amount of from bringing oversized items such as outlined by the city’s office of sustain- On April 20, Algalita Marine Re- microplastics,” Allen said. “His question refrigerators or dishwashers. “That’s ability. “We’re asking people to replace search and Education, a local nonprofit, was, ‘How do we clean this up?’ And a little outside our purview,” she said. 8th Annual Tour & Festival LAWN-TO-GARDEN “Basically, anything people can easily FREE carry in from their car that won’t take a forklift to move [is acceptable].” GROW LOCAL LOVE Aquarium President and CEO Dr. Jerry Schubel said that the annual fes- tival helps people understand how their Saturday, June 1, 2019 actions affect the planet. “Earth Day Tour: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. is an important opportunity for us all (throughout City) to reflect on our relationship with our planet and the species we share it with,” Festival: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. he said. (Long Beach Water, 1800 E Wardlow Road) When asked if Earth Day is about politics, Kathleen Rogers said that, by definition, it is political. “Yes, it’s about policy, it’s about politicians, it’s about Start your day by touring up to 20 newly transformed gardens getting things done, but it is not parti- san,” she said. “In the United States, we throughout the City and speak to the homeowners about their have Republicans, Democrats, Indepen- water-wise transformations. After your tour, join the festival at dents and everybody in the middle of Long Beach Water for more family fun. that, all doing Earth Day. It’s not rele- gated to a political party.” Earth Day can be about protesting The Lawn-to-Garden program is offering an increased incentive and signing petitions, Rogers said, but it’s also about “making commitments, and more square footage to help you create a beautiful, cleaning up, planting trees [and] edu- California-friendly landscape. cating your kids.” Earth Day, ultimate- ly, is about optimism, she went on. “[It’s about] being forward-thinking and cre- ating the kind of world we want to live in, not the one we spent 150 years of in- dustrial development trashing. Industri- Register for tour map at al development was good, but the green revolution will dwarf it. Green energy lblawntogarden.com and green living will make a lot of mon- Presented by ey for a lot of people if we do it right.”

April 27-28

Learn what you can do to help our ocean planet while visiting the Aquarium of the Pacific for its annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28. Families can journey through the Aquarium to celebrate Earth Day by learning everyday tips to protect our environment. Visitors will have the chance to visit booths from various Earth-friendly organizations and to participate in hands-on learning demonstrations for people of all ages.

Bring your eWaste item and SAVE $10 on Adult Admission

Bring an eWaste item to the Aquarium of the Pacific during Earth Day Celebration and receive a coupon valid for $10 off Adult Admission, valid on April 27-28, 2019 only. Accepted e-waste includes electronic items such as cell phones, computers, monitors, televisions, and small household appliances. Refrigerators, large appli- ances, and batteries or items containing batteries will not be accepted. Restrictions apply.

AquAriumofpAcific.org 562.590.3100 100 AquArium WAy, Long BeAch, cA 90802 GOING GREEN 20 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

really easy switch and there isn’t a cost which is why they were given the full 18 difference,” Rowland said. “It’s one of months to make their transition, Row- Helping Businesses And those low-hanging fruit we prioritized land said. “Our team has gone to over with our city facilities and with the 150 restaurants in the last few months, foam free recognition as well.” just talking to them about the ordi- Residents Build A Foam In March 2019, the next phase of nance, getting them engaged, asking the EPS ban extended to large food them questions.” providers such as franchise restau- The foam free program recognized Free Long Beach rants, grocery and convenience stores, owners and establishments that made food trucks and the Long Beach Uni- the transition ahead of the December By PIERCE NAHIGYAN fied School District. “In July 2018, we 3 deadline. These businesses became Staff Writer did a direct mail to all of the food ser- eligible for financial reimbursement vice restaurants in the city telling them for purchasing non-EPS packaging and The Long Beach Environmental Ser- between June and September 2018, af- about the ordinance,” Rowland said. were promoted by the bureau through vices Bureau is helping local business- fected Long Beach government depart- A postcard was mailed to all fast food its website, social media and some paid es transition away from using food and ments, city-owned and leased proper- businesses in the city in February 2019, advertising. As of this writing, 45 busi- beverage containers made of expanded ties, and businesses that contract with which will be followed by another mail- nesses have met the requirements for polystyrene (EPS) foam – a non-recy- the city. Prior to the Phase 1 deadline, ing this summer, she added. reimbursement, Rowland said. clable, non-compostable material – with environmental services staff visited The EPS ordinance will take full The response to the EPS ban has its Foam Free LB campaign. the city’s busiest facilities, such as the effect on December 3, 2019, to encom- been varied in the business community, The campaign followed the passage Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen pass restaurants with 100 seats or few- but many businesses have embraced it of a June 2018 ordinance that banned Mary, the convention center, the airport er. By the end of this third phase, the as part of the city’s larger goal to re- EPS packaging as well as polystyrene and parks, to help eliminate foam con- ordinance also prohibits retailers from duce waste and encourage sustainabil- filler and coolers. Separated into three tainers and replace them with recycla- selling toys with polystyrene filling. ity, Rowland said. “In the City of Long phases, the ban established an 18-month ble alternatives. “Our city council felt “That’s a pretty unique component to Beach, we’re lucky that we have a lot timeline for businesses to make the it was important for us to lead by exam- our expanded polystyrene ordinance of businesses that have always been change. “Most cities across California ple, which is also part of the phased-in compared to other cities,” Rowland foam free or made the switch five years and other jurisdictions tend to just have approach. It allowed our city facilities said. “A lot of toys have expanded poly- ago,” she continued. “Some restaurants a deadline date and everybody has to be to get in compliance before we asked styrene in them. It’s not always obvious, are really excited about it. They see the on board,” Erin Rowland, waste diver- the rest of the business community,” nor is it labeled.” Rowland’s bureau has health benefits for their patrons. They sion and recycling officer for the envi- Rowland said. been fielding calls from toy manufac- see the reduction of litter as a really ronmental services bureau, told the Busi- Environmental services went be- turers to help them understand how to positive thing.” ness Journal. “Long Beach took a unique yond the requirements of the ordinance bring their products into compliance by The industrial chemical used to make approach in an effort to make the switch by replacing the Styrofoam coffee cup the end of the year. polystyrene and other plastics, styrene, is easier for the business community.” lids offered in government buildings About 80% of restaurants affected recognized by the National Institute of The first phase of the ban, occurring with recyclable plastic lids. “That’s a by the EPS ban have 100 seats or fewer, Environmental Health Sciences (NIE- GOING GREEN Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019 - 21

HS) as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” According to the institute, some occupational studies have shown that workers exposed to styrene have a higher risk of developing cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. In ani- mal studies, styrene caused lung tumors to develop in mice. Other U.S. cities that have banned EPS include New York City, Seattle, Portland, Miami Beach, Nantucket and Washington, D.C. “We want to have a healthy city with healthy residents,” Rowland said. Because polystyrene does not de- compose but only breaks down into smaller pieces, it easily accumulates in streets and water. “It will never degrade in our lifetime. It just becomes litter,” Rowland said. “We see it on our beach- es and we see it in our streets and our parks and all these places that we like to be in. I think Long Beach sees this as a real opportunity to be a leader and recognize that there are alternatives to these products.” One of the most recent foam free establishments in town is Claire’s, a restaurant located at the Long Beach Museum of Art. The restaurant replaced Long Beach restaurants certified as its polystyrene food containers with paper ones. From left: Dalia Gonzalez, intern at the public works department; Martin Fernandez, executive chef foam free by the environmental ser- at Claire’s; Erin Rowland, waste diversion and recycling officer for the environmental services bureau; Christy Serrano, public works clerical aide. vices bureau receive a letter from the (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.) mayor and a decal to display on their property. The bureau has also donat- the transition, and we’ve tried to work types 1, 2 and 5 may also be used. The coastline, that really see the impact of ed paper straws to these facilities, as with them to make sure we have alter- bureau also actively encourages resi- litter on our beach – especially with the the EPS ordinance also mandates that natives,” Rowland said. dents to bring their own to-go containers recent rains we’ve had,” Rowland said. restaurants should no longer provide Instead of polystyrene containers, with them when they dine out through its “People see it and experience it and it customers plastic straws or utensils ex- the environmental services bureau rec- “Choose to Reuse” campaign. motivates them to think about alterna- cept by request. “Some businesses are ommends restaurants use aluminum “I think we have a lot of residents tives and other practices to be part of definitely concerned with the cost of or paper. Recyclable plastics labeled as and businesses, especially being on the the solution every day.”

ThisThis earthearth month,month, focusfocus onon smallsmall changeschanges toto makemake aa bigbig impactimpact onon thethe environmentenvironment withwith thethe #GoGreenPledge#GoGreenPledge

OneOne easyeasy changechange withwith aa bigbig impactimpact –– RefuseRefuse single-usesingle-use disposablesdisposables likelike strawsstraws andand utensilsutensils byby bringingbringing youryour own!own!

Take the Pledge! www.longbeach.gov/gogreenpledge GOING GREEN 22 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

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6 River And Irrigate 7 Local Parks proposed wetlands

5 By PIERCE NAHIGYAN de forest ave. Staff Writer VAN NUYS BLVD VAN

view existing building A major project is in the works to our parks, we’ll be able to take that 15” vcp sewer N treat the stormwater and urban runoff water that we’ve treated and reuse it,” A rendering of the planned Long Beach Municipal Urban Stormwater LANARK ST key plan: N.T.S. diverted into the Los Angeles River, Long Beach City Engineer Alvin Papa Treatment facility, located north of West Shoreline Drive and east of the Los Angeles River. (Image courtesy of the City of Long Beach.) which ultimately ends up in the Long told the Business Journal. Once fully City of Long Beach Conceptual Perspective 2 Municipal Urban Stormwater Treatment Facility Treatment Plant Beach harbor. Through the Long Beach operational, GillisLB + Panichapan MUST Architects, Inc could both im- November 29, 2018 Municipal Urban Stormwater Treatment prove the city’s sustainability and sig- 4 (LB MUST) Project, a new facility nificantly offset future irrigation costs, along the way: bacteria, hydrocarbons, its statewide stormwater program for would be built on the east side of the Papa said. pesticides, metal particles and trash. If the project, the Rivers and Mountains L.A. River near West Shoreline Drive At present, the water captured by instead diverted to a treatment center, Conservancy awarded $2 million to to remove pollutants from stormwater, the city’s stormwater basins is conveyed the water would be stripped of these el- build a wetlands ecosystem in the sur- thereby significantly improving the wa- directly to pump stations that line the ements and could be used safely in pub- rounding area, and $1 million came ter quality of the harbor. In the future, L.A. River. According to a biological lic environments. from the community grants program the treated water could even be used as resource report prepared for LB MUST The city has thus far obtained $31 managed by the Port of Long Beach. In a resource to irrigate municipal parks. by Michael Baker International, this million to build LB MUST, Papa said. mid-March, the city council submitted “So instead of spending funding to stormwater discharged into the river The California Department of Trans- a $2 million grant application to the purchase water and use it to irrigate contains all the pollutants it picked up portation granted $28 million through California Ocean Protection Council GOING GREEN Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019 - 23

(COPC), which has $30 million avail- able to treat that water,” Othmer said. able for “multi-benefit ecosystem and However, it would be incredibly costly watershed protection and restoration to treat the salt water to the point that it projects.” Papa said it may take up to would be suitable for irrigation, Othmer three months to learn if Long Beach explained. Following a suggestion from receives the grant. staff at the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Stantec Consulting is the engineer- salt water will instead be used to create ing design firm overseeing LB MUST. a salt water wetlands on the LB MUST Project Manager Ed Othmer called the property. facility “one of the biggest hidden se- Other challenges include accom- crets” being built along the L.A. Riv- modating the variation in the rate of er. “It’s such an amazing project,” he stormwater flow and pollutant concen- said. “It’s really the first state of the tration that would enter the facility; art project being done on the L.A. Riv- coordinating facility construction with er this way. The city’s now looking to the planned replacement of Shoemak- treat this water as a resource and, real- er Bridge; and fortifying the ground ly, that’s the direction our industry is beneath the facility area, which is in a going in, because of the droughts.” seismic hazard zone. “That’s going to The location of the LB MUST facil- be some interesting work,” Othmer said. ity and the ambition of its scope poses The engineer estimated that initial several unique challenges to Stantec. construction of LB MUST may begin Othmer noted that, because the facility in late 2019 or early 2020, with the first would treat an eight-mile segment of the phase being devoted to the seismic im- L.A. River stretching from the harbor to provements beneath the planned founda- the 91 Freeway, some of the water di- tion. “The project is faced with a whole verted into LB MUST would be salty, bunch of engineering challenges, which and some would be fresh water. “To ad- kind of makes it fun for us,” Othmer dress that, we need to develop two sep- said. “That’s the nature of an engineer, arate treatment trains if we want to be right? We want to solve problems.”

Green Trucks other three platforms assessed – hydro- gen fuel cells, plug-in hybrids and the (Continued from Page 1) advanced diesel internal combustion engine – currently rank between TRL and the availability of refueling infra- 5 and 6, meaning they are still under structure. development or in the demonstration Transitioning to near-zero and ze- phase. The advanced diesel engine, the ro-emission vehicles is one of the key assessment notes, “has yet to demon- goals outlined by the San Pedro Bay strate [near zero-emission] status.” Ports Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP), While battery electric trucks “out- a joint strategy by the ports of Long perform diesel trucks in terms of pow- Beach and Los Angeles to reduce emis- er, torque, and gradeability,” they are sions in the port complex. Originally limited by the range they are able to created in 2006, the CAAP was updated travel, the weight they can carry and in 2010 and 2017 to create new emis- the time they require to recharge, ac- sions targets. Under the latest iteration cording to the assessment. Natural gas of the plan, the ports are attempting trucks are determined to be “the closest to transition to zero-emission terminal direct replacement for diesel trucks in equipment by 2030 and zero-emission terms of operational feasibility.” Natu- trucks by 2035. ral gas-powered trucks are on par with The ports have committed to re- diesel trucks in “basic performance leasing regular feasibility assessments metrics,” and are expected to achieve on the technology in order to reach the greater parity in support infrastructure CAAP’s goals. “The plan is to release as they become more commonly avail- them in three-year increments, because able. they are quite intensive,” Matt Arms, the According to the report, manufac- port’s acting director of environmental turers “have significantly accelerated planning, said. “If there is a need, we’ll their efforts to develop and commercial- do them sooner.” ize ZE [zero-emission] and NZE [near The 2018 Feasibility Assessment for zero-emission] Class 8 trucks suitable Drayage Trucks, released in early April for drayage,” with both “commercial 2019, includes technology readiness and pre-commercial demonstrations . . level (TRL) ratings that describe the . now underway.” various stages of platform development. The feasibility assessments released Natural gas is ranked the highest in this by the ports are intended to be unbiased, nine-tier system, currently at TRL 8. technical documents that do not offer This means natural gas trucking tech- policy suggestions, Arms said. They nology displays technical viability in are meant to inform decisionmakers demonstrations, with the likelihood of and serve as guideposts for the current advancing to the ranking of TRL 9, or state of green technology. “This docu- commercial operation, by 2021. ment, incorporated with other things Battery electric drayage trucks are that we’re doing under the CAAP – they currently in the demonstration and con- all need to be brought together in order ditioning phase of development, ranked to continually make policy decisions TRL 6-7. This technology is expected about our goals [and] where we should to reach TRL 8 by or before 2021. The focus our efforts,” he concluded. PRESENTS

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A New Era of Racing around in less than 30 days,” Michaelian scheduled for April 11 and are free to When it comes to the main event, said. “I dare say there’s virtually few, if the public. The latter features freestyle Michaelian namechecked two Indy- (Continued from Page 1) any, companies around that would have motocross and IndyCar pit stop demon- Car drivers to watch this year, rookies gest-running street race. had not only the resources but the incli- strations, among other activities. Patricio O’Ward and Colton Herta. “In Acura’s involvement has kicked nation to activate that quickly around a On the first day of race weekend, terms of where IndyCar is nowadays, off that new era, Michaelian told the program like that. . . . They have so far Friday, April 12, practice and quali- those two rookies are beginning to re- Business Journal. “Quite frankly, we turned out to be an ideal partner.” fying races are held. Six racing events ally draw some significant interest,” he couldn’t be happier with the way this The proximity of Acura’s headquar- are slated for Saturday and Sunday: the said. thing has evolved,” he said. “It really is ters to Long Beach was another key fac- BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix, Hailing from Monterrey, Mexi- an entirely new feeling, with regard to tor in their decision, Michaelian contin- the Motegi Racing Super Drift Chal- co, O’Ward was the 2018 Indy Lights how we work together, how we achieve ued. Located in Torrance, the company lenge, the Stadium Super Trucks Race, Champion and will be racing the No. things.” He called the process “invigo- is just a short drive from the Grand Prix the Pirelli GT4 America, the Historic 31 car for the Carlin team. Herta, driv- rating” for his organization. Association’s office, allowing for fast International Motor Sports Association ing the No. 88 car for Harding Stein- That Acura and its parent company and easy communication. “You couldn’t (IMSA) GTO Challenge, and the fea- brenner Racing, is the son of IndyCar Honda have participated in the Grand do that with a company that’s located tured NTT IndyCar Series event. Each driver Bryan Herta and the grandson Prix of Long Beach, and that Honda has in Chicago or in New York or anyplace race is meant to appeal to different of Thomas Herta, one of the first in- won more races at the event than any else,” Michaelian said. And, by being tastes and demographics, Michaelian vestors in the Grand Prix Association other automaker, were major deciding positioned nearby, Acura has a unique said. of Long Beach in 1975. Colton Herta factors in obtaining their sponsorship, understanding of the event’s local im- The GTO challenge, for example, comes to the Grand Prix fresh off his Michaelian said. By his estimation, the pact. Last year, Grand Prix weekend was selected to celebrate the 50th an- March 24 win at the IndyCar Classic, Grand Prix Association gave presenta- drew 185,000 people to the Long Beach niversary of IMSA with classic muscle which occurred just a week before his tions to at least 16 different companies, area. cars. “Camaros, Corvettes, Mustangs, 19th birthday. “He’s the youngest win- both automotive and non-automotive, Ticket sales leading up to this year’s Berettas, Nissan 300ZX, all those kinds ner of an IndyCar race in history,” Mi- after Toyota ended its sponsorship in event have matched 2018’s, Michae- of cars,” Michaelian said. “You’re not chaelian said. 2018. Few had either the financial capa- lian said. “We’re just a slight bit ahead going to hear anything like that all Mexican rock band El Tri is return- bility or understanding of the event that of where we were last year, so that’s a weekend long. But when you hear them, ing for its third Grand Prix appearance made for a good match. good sign.” you’re going to go, ‘Whoa!’” as the headliner of the Fiesta Friday In a typical year, planning for the A number of community events On Saturday and Sunday, Robby Concert. Saturday’s concert features next Grand Prix begins in July or Au- and festivities are planned for the days Gordon’s 600-horsepower super trucks Moontower and is headlined by indie gust, Michaelian explained. With the leading up to the big race weekend. will launch themselves into the air from rock band Cold War Kids. Acura title announcement occurring On April 10, “Roar in the Shore” takes temporary ramps placed across the “Acura came in here and assisted in February, just two months out from place on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore, racetrack. “Everybody loves the trucks. us in getting Cold War Kids,” Michae- the race, the opportunities for advertis- with live music and classic car displays. Kids, women, men, doesn’t matter,” Mi- lian said. He added that this was the ing were more truncated than normal. The Long Beach Motorsports Walk of chaelian said. “People just flock to the first time a title sponsor participated in Yet, Acura dealers began running com- Fame Induction Ceremony and Thurs- fence to watch them pirouetting over the process. “It was always our deal; mercials in March. “That stuff turned day Thunder at the Pike Outlets are those jumps.” (Please Continue to Page 28) Local economy, start your engines.

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ACURA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH 28 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

(Continued from Page 26) This year’s IndyCar series race is set for an exclusive broadcast by NBC we went out and did it. But [Acura] with retired driver Danica Patrick as came on and said, ‘You know, let’s talk co-anchor, Michaelian said. The beau- about who we all want to attract to the ty of holding the race in the City of event,’” he explained, referring to Sat- Long Beach, he went on, is the oppor- urday’s concert. tunity to show off the growth of the Whether a visitor prefers super downtown area. “They have to cover trucks, drifting, muscle cars or Indy- the whole area with their cameras, be- Car racing, or just the chance to grab cause that’s where the race takes place. an autograph from a favorite driver, It’s an outdoor event in a very attrac- Michaelian said that the goal of his tive venue. So, when people are view- association is to put on a great show ing it and they see, year after year, the for everone. “As long as in the end they high rises that are going up . . . that’s walk away and say, ‘You know what? I all beneficial to us, because it says, this had a great time,’ that’s a winner, as far event is taking place in a dynamic, bur- as we’re concerned.” geoning city.” IndyCar’s Alexander Rossi: “It’s A Special Race For Us All ...” By MICHAEL GOUGIS Contributing Writer

IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi gives the crowd a nod at the 2018 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. (Image courtesy of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.)

road course wouldn’t be there! There’s aero[dynamic] standpoint – they were IndyCar racer Alexander Rossi rounds a corner during the 2018 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. no margin for error. Your limits are elite race cars, at the pinnacle, and they This year, Rossi is again participating in the event, now called the Acura Grand Prix of Long concrete walls. You have to adjust your will be there for a very long time.” Beach. (Image courtesy of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach.) mindset. It’s a unique challenge. It’s Test driving roles with minor For- one of the things that makes IndyCar mula One teams led to a series of five There are two truly shining gems “It’s one of our flagship events, sec- so unique, the diversity of tracks we starts with the now-defunct Manor on the NTT IndyCar Series calendar, ond only to the Indy 500. The history race at over a season.” Marussia F1 Team in 2015, which took races that can make a driver’s career. of Long Beach, the history of motor- Rossi has nothing but praise for the 12th at the United States Grand Prix A win at the Indianapolis 500, or a win sport in the area, the legacy that the changes made to the cars for the 2019 that year. But with no ride available for in the Grand Prix of Long Beach, puts track has makes it a highlight event for season. New spec bodywork means 2016 in Formula One, Rossi came back a racer’s name on the list of the sport’s us. And it’s even more so for me,” says lower costs and closer racing, as all to the States and the Andretti Motor- true greats, next to some of the legends Rossi, who grew up in Nevada City, teams now have the same aerodynamic sports operation threw him a lifeline. of auto racing. California, about midway between basis to work from. He repaid them in spectacular fashion, Alexander Rossi has won both. Sacramento and Reno. “It equalized things up and down taking the win at Indy in his rookie In- Rossi shocked the American racing “It’s kind of a home race, being the grid, which I think has been great dyCar season and giving him the op- establishment in 2016, taking the In- from California, so I’ve always got a for the show,” Rossi says. “Last year, portunity at home to drive for a front- dianapolis 500 win as a rookie in the lot of friends and family down. It’s a we set a record, I think, for on-track line team – an opportunity he never series. But it came as no surprise to special race for us all, but particularly passes.” had overseas. those who had followed the young Cal- for me, so the fact that we were able to Rossi is one of those drivers who “It opened doors that I don’t think ifornian’s career, as he had shown the put on a good show last year and get has shown the talent needed to drive at would have otherwise opened,” Rossi talent to compete at the highest level of the win was pretty awesome. Looking the top, but as in every major sport, it’s says. “I came into the series on a one- the sport, racing in Formula One, win- ahead to this year, we’re going to try to not just about talent, it’s about oppor- year deal with Michael Andretti and ning in the series that supported For- do it all over again.” tunity. A champion and winner in sev- Bryan Herta. It was a last-minute addi- mula One, and helping develop some of IndyCar races a variety cir- eral minor series, he showed enough tion; they had only ever run three cars the most amazing Formula One cars to cuit types, but courses like the con- talent to get a role in developing the before. We were the fourth car. There ever tear around a racing circuit. crete-lined streets of Long Beach pro- BMW Sauber Formula One car for the was no sponsorship on the car. At the For those who needed further proof, vide a particular challenge. It’s a long 2010 season. That gave him a taste of last minute, the local Midwest distrib- Rossi won again in 2017 and took the race over difficult terrain, and small one of the most capable racing cars utor for NAPA Auto Parts came on Long Beach win in 2018 en route to mistakes carry large consequences. ever built, and put him in the frame for board for a one-off 500 sponsorship. three wins and second in the Cham- “The things you’re looking for in a Formula One drive later in his career. No one was expecting what was going pionship standings. After two races in the car in order to go quick are pret- “Those cars were pretty spectacu- to happen, and we won the race! 2019, Rossi sits fourth in the points and ty specialized in terms of what you lar. They were pretty awesome,” Rossi “We immediately developed a rela- heads back to Long Beach to defend need for a street circuit,” Rossi says. says. “The capabilities – this was be- tionship with NAPA, with Honda and last year’s win at a track that is special “There’s a lot less grip than on a per- fore they were restricted as they are Andretti, and here we are, four years to any IndyCar driver, but has particu- manent road course. You’re dealing now. What they could do in terms of later, with the same group of people. larly special meaning to him. with bumps and transitions that on a power, what they could do from an I’m very fortunate.” Your Overnight Escape Awaits CATALINA ISLAND

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New Grand Prix Title Sponsor Acura Seeks To Reenergize Its Brand And The Race

By SAMANTHA MEHLINGER Editor

For Acura, Honda’s performance luxury brand, signing a multi-year deal to become the new title sponsor of the Grand Prix of Long Beach “made all the sense in the world,” the company’s vice president and brand officer, Jon Ikeda, told the Business Journal in an interview at American Honda Motor Co.’s corporate offices in Torrance. “It is the most iconic road circuit – there’s no way of getting around it – in North America,” Ikeda said. In addition to the opportunity to put its name on a race associated with many legendary moments, the timing was right for the company, Ikeda said, explaining that Acura had been ramping up its racing efforts and focusing on “the resurgence of [the] brand.” Three years ago, Acura debuted a new sportscar, the NSX, as a part of its efforts to re-energize the brand, Ikeda explained. The move represented a re- turn to the company’s roots – Ikeda said that when he first joined Acura, he was attracted the company’s sleek, unique car designs. “If you really look at the original Legends or the first two gen- Jon Ikeda, vice president and brand officer for Acura, is pictured with the brand’s Formula One race car on display in American Honda Motor Co.’s of- erations [of models], the cars were so fices in Torrance. A native of Southern California, Ikeda said, “In L.A., car culture is just huge, and the Long Beach Grand Prix was a big deal growing much lower and sleeker than what was up.” (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.) being sold at the time,” he said. “It re- ally got my interest from an industrial IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Champi- He grew up in Glendale and Pasadena, race and [we want] everybody to show design perspective of who is building onship on Saturday, April 13. and eventually bought his first home in up in Long Beach, because it’s going these things, and that led to me going Working with the event organizer, Long Beach. “Just the downtown area to be a great thing. We’re trying to get to Japan and learning about the people the Grand Prix Association of Long alone is going through a huge transi- that energy back in. It’s a Southern that built the character and philosophy Beach, has been great, Ikeda said, lik- tion,” he observed. Acura hopes to cap- California thing,” Ikeda said. [of Acura].” ening the relationship to “a first date.” italize off of that momentum during While Ikeda did not confirm the Ikeda, a self-professed “car geek,” The details of Acura’s sponsorship had race weekend. “We want to bring that actual length of Acura’s sponsorship has been working for Honda and Acu- to be pulled together quickly, he not- new breath, new future feel,” he said. contract beyond indicating that it is ra since 1989, spending most of those ed. After Toyota chose not to renew its In its advertising for the event, “multi-year,” he said that the compa- years as an automotive designer and long-running title sponsorship follow- which is tied to its dealerships, Acu- ny is “thinking long-term” and hopes in research and development. “I love ing last year’s race, the Grand Prix As- ra is emphasizing that the Grand Prix to have a “fruitful relationship with the company. I have been with it for sociation had less than a year to find a isn’t just an event for Long Beach, but the city and the promoter for a good 30 years. And now, we’re just trying new sponsor. Acura’s sponsorship was for all of Southern California. “It’s our while.” to re-energize Acura again,” he said. announced February 5, just a little over Founded 30 years ago, Acura fancies two months before the race. itself the “Millennial” of luxury per- Ikeda and his team are learning what formance brands, Ikeda noted. “We still was done in partnership with the pre- have a lot to do and evolve. But per- vious sponsor, Toyota, and what Acura formance in racing has been a big part might be able to expand upon in com- of our short history and we want to be ing years. “We’re the new kid in town. more involved with it going forward. . . There’s a lot of courting. . . . We’re still . The Long Beach Grand Prix is a great trying to work those fine things out,” he project and event to be associated with,” said. he said. Ikeda pointed out that Acura is af- “As a corporation, we love racing. filiated with the Sundance Film Festi- From all the other products we have val and with the New Orleans Jazz & – motorcycles, anything, we’re racing Heritage Festival, and that he hopes to it. . . . It’s in our company’s culture to inject some of that experience in the en- race,” Ikeda said. Acura’s racing history tertainment world into the Grand Prix’s will be part of an exhibit at the Grand concerts, which close out Friday and Prix’s Lifestyle Expo in the Long Beach Saturday nights of race weekend. Ike- Convention & Entertainment Center, he da said he hopes to make the concerts noted. Although Acura does not race “even bigger” in the future. This year, Acura helped secure Cold War Kids as vehicles in the NTT IndyCar Series, the The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will feature eight of these Acura NSX pace cars – vehicles main event of Grand Prix weekend, it the headliner for Saturday’s show. that set the pace and positions of racers. The NSX is a luxury sportscar made in America. (Photo- does race as part of Team Penske in the Ikeda is no stranger to Long Beach. graph by Brandon Richardson.) T:10.5 in T:10 in

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Labor Union Long Affiliated With Grand Prix Becomes An Official Sponsor By ALENA MASCHKE Staff Writer

The smell of burning rubber, the sound of roaring engines and thousands of visitors’ cheers: it’s that time of the year again. Formerly known as the Toy- ota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the 2019 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach takes place along the city’s waterfront from April 12 to April 14. Acura has stepped in as the event’s new name sponsor, but that’s not the only sponsorship change this year. The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), whose members have long been involved in setting up fencing, barriers and bleachers for the event’s au- dience, has signed on as a Grand Prix co-sponsor for the next three years. the country that the opportunities with didn’t have the necessary resources un- Peter Santillan, business manager and secre- “We have been working with the LIUNA are there. This just happens to til this year. “It was just the right time,” tary-treasurer of Laborers International Union Grand Prix, building the track, since be one of them,” Santillan pointed out. he said. Santillan said the union’s ex- of America Local 1309, is pictured on Shore- line Drive in Downtown Long Beach, where its inception,” Peter Santillan, business “This is a little bit of a taste of what we pertise and training of new workers has workers are putting up fencing and barriers manager and secretary-treasurer of LI- do as construction laborers. This is their helped the Grand Prix go over smoothly for the 2019 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. UNA Local 1309, told the Business introduction that then leads them on to year after year. “This is hard work. It’s (Photograph by Brandon Richardson.) Journal. “We thought [the sponsorship] other opportunities in construction.” precise work that needs to be done cor- would be a good opportunity to show LI- Santillan said LIUNA had long con- rectly, safely. So that’s something that UNA and to show the world what we do sidered becoming an event sponsor but we strive for,” he said. as construction workers.” Just a week be- fore the event, union members – wearing orange vests and hard hats – were busy putting the finishing touches on the tem- porary structures along Shoreline Drive. “It’s different every day. Right now, we’re doing a lot of the fencing,” Tyrone Ash, a new member of the union, said. Ash, who lives in North Long Beach, said he was lucky to be picked for the gig. “It’s exciting to know that I will be a part of this,” Ash said. The Grand Prix setup is his first job with the union, and the experience has been positive, he said. “So far, it’s been good. I learned a lot and OF LONG BEACH I like that it’s something that I can pass on to my kids.” Ash said he’s never been to the Grand Prix, but he’ll make sure to come this year. Fellow LIUNA member Roberto Bañuelos has a Grand Prix legacy to look back on. Bañuelos himself has been part of the team setting up the Grand Prix for over 10 years. “It’s pretty cool, because it’s for Long Beach, something you do every year,” he said. His father, who worked on the Grand Prix construc- tion team for over 30 years, encouraged Bañuelos to apply more than a decade ago. “Because of him, I’m here,” Bañue- los reflected. A full-time construction worker, he said working the Grand Prix is a welcome change of pace from his regular engagements. “It’s a different kind of work than we usually do. It’s more involved, more detailed work,” he noted. For many workers, the Grand Prix setup is also a way to bridge a gap in employment when regular construction slows down during the first months of the year. “It’s getting the word out to What’s best for you.

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Long Beach Medical Center | Orange Coast Medical Center | Saddleback Medical Center | MemorialCare Medical Group | Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach MILLENNIAL PULSE 34 - Long Beach Business Journal • April 9-22, 2019

Given that the Millennials who seem to be getting the most amount of press now- adays are those railing against the establishment (ahem, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), you might think bringing up current events would be the way to rattle us. But you’re not going to shake us with all of the usual fodder stoking the fires of cable news. And, if you try, trust me, you’re going to regret it – we’ll either walk away or unleash a lengthy Twitter thread calling you out on your bad behavior. So what could possibly throw us so off balance that we are made silent, and you can finally rejoice in a petty generational victory before sailing off into the prover- bial sunset? There are a number of circumstances that, much like a good jab to the solar-plex- us, would undoubtedly so deeply unnerve most Millennials that they would be ren- dered speechless (at least temporarily). These include: • Public displays of bipartisanship. So used to political division are we that pub- Millennial Pulse licly expressing your admiration for a member of the opposite party, unless you’re a Republican talking about Joe Biden or a Democrat talking about John (Continued from Page 1) McCain, will likely force us to question our reality – have we entered an alter- about this year are at least somewhat unsettling: China, Russia, North Korea (upset nate dimension where civility exists? stomach, diarrhea!); the mounting crisis at the border (because whichever way you • Proposing that Bill Nye the Science Guy is a fraud. look at it, it’s a crisis); rich parents bribing their kids’ way into college (yet no one is • Declaring that Emily Blunt and John Krasinki – Millennials’ beloved, shining surprised); Nazis 2.0; and not being able to fit women into spacesuits (because lady hope that marriage is still maybe actually a good thing – are getting a divorce. parts are so confusing, am I right?). • Outing Queer Eye guy Jonathan Van Ness as an actor who is actually straight, If you’ve managed to avoid the subtle sensation of uneasiness that many of us feel does not care about your hair care regimen and is totally unamused by ice about these circumstances, I’m guessing your method is avoidance – and frankly, I skating. don’t blame you. Turning on the news these days is basically an act of masochism. • Proclaiming that avocados are actually bad for your health – meanwhile, glu- It seems to me, anecdotally, that avoidance seems more common among my age ten turns out to be a cancer preventative. group than it does among those older than us. I know how the Baby Boomers will • Replacing all the locally-sourced craft beer taps at our favorite watering hole explain this away: we’re snowflakes who can’t handle reality. I’d argue that we’re fed with Budweiser. up with the status quo and the complete political gridlock that’s contributing to it • Revealing that Trader Joe’s has been using preservatives all along – their food and would rather think about something else for five minutes, but to each their own. just goes bad quicker because it’s old. In my last column, I wrote about older generations being grumpy toward Millen- • A live action version of the most disturbing cartoon film of our youth’s, “A nials – a phenomenon that I am sure engendered shock and awe amongst Business Troll In Central Park.” Journal readers. I would like to again address the older generations, i.e., anyone old- • Elon Musk announcing a bid for the presidency. er than 38: Hello there. Are the Millennials invading your workplaces driving you Suggesting any of the above fictitious turn of events will give you the upper hand, batty? Do you wish there was something you could do to take the wind out of their but only momentarily. After all, you raised us – we don’t need someone to make us a entitled, participation trophy-inflated sails? If someone says “like” unnecessarily list to know what your trigger points are. (Cue evil laugh slightly muffled by avocado one more time, are you going to put your fist through a wall? toast munching). Heroines, Heroes, Villains, & the Messiah. It’s a season of drama, romance, and music with the Long Beach Performing Arts.

Check out the Convention Center Theaters’ premier performances — International City Theatre; Long Beach Ballet; Long Beach Camerata Singers; Long Beach Opera; Long Beach Symphony; Musica Angelica and Musical Theatre West. Operatic, broadway, choral, plays, musicals, dance and orchestra — this season is full of the fi nest and most exciting in the April performing arts. Glittering chandeliers, continental style seating and the rich acoustics of each performance provide the Musical Theatre West ultimate theater experience and, Orange County School of the Arts presents: with over 125 restaurants just steps away “Evita” Friday, April 19 | 7pm for dinner, drinks or dancing, it will be, dare Saturday, April 20 | 7pm we say, “a feast for the senses”.

Long Beach Symphony Classical Series: Mozart’s “Jupiter” Look for future performances. Saturday, April 27 | 8pm (562) 436-3636 | longbeachcc.com Peak Performance The Port of Long Beach’s success is built on operational excellence, moving cargo to and from market quickly and efficiently. Watch for our Zero-Emissions Fuel Cell Powered Pace Car at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach!

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