Now I know why Bob Barker retired from The Price Is Right—he wanted to make himself available to emcee the Long Beach City Council. As you have no doubt heard the City Council recently voted unanimously to rescind the mandated unionization of hotels on city property (I refuse to address it as the “labor peace” ordinance as where there are unions inevitably there is un-peace and strikes or threats thereof) but took a pass on the other ordinance which is headed to the voters: banning “big box” stores from selling groceries.
The decision on whether to rescind this ordinance has been put off until November—the council is shopping the ballot measure to see if they can get a better deal. Maybe CostCo or Wal*Mart can hold the election; I hear they have low prices.
In the Press-Telegram yesterday morning, 8th District Councilwoman Rae Gabelich was quoted after the vote to reconsider rescinding the big-box ban in November, that she thought the election might cost the city “only” $25,000. In my house $25,000 does not qualify as “only”. This is approximately the salary of our council members, is it still “only”?
Gary DeLong from the 3rd District is against the big-box ban, but even he plays some Price Is Right on the vote to delay the decision until November, “I don’t mind seeing it on the ballot as long as it doesn’t cost half a million dollars,” he told the Press-Telegram. “Although personally I still think (the big-box measure is) a bad idea, I would much rather spend ($20,000) or $25,000 on a bad idea than $500,000 on a bad idea.”
While I agree that the less you spend on a bad idea the better, why spend any on a bad idea? That may be a good trade on Barker’s old show, but the city is facing deficits and cuts in services is not a game show trading prizes for better deals.
Soon-to-be-candidate-for-statewide-office Bonnie Lowenthal, representing the 1st District, feels the big-box ban protects “middle-class workers who happen to work in the grocery business.” I still remember the aggressive tactics by the grocery workers’ unions accosting shoppers and workers when Bristol Farms opened in Los Altos saying the same thing—I do not see any big union grocery stores that closed in the area. In fact, since the Bristol Farms opening, the Vons down the road has expanded and both stores are thriving. Bristol Farms’ non-union shop has helped surrounding businesses and revived the once moribund Los Altos Center.
On the one hand let’s protect the “middle class grocery worker” from competition, while eliminating competitive pricing for residents. On the one hand let’s wring our hands and discuss the number of families we have living in poverty in Long Beach, while preventing them the opportunity to purchase their groceries and necessities at lower prices. On the one hand let’s complain about “special interests” and “big business” paying for ballot measures, while taking campaign contributions from those who want their goals and objectives turned into ordinances.
Come to Long Beach, if the price is right you will get your ordinance passed, or perhaps we can trade the ordinance for what is inside the envelope Bob Barker is holding. When the next primaries and elections are held in which several members of our council are involved, see if you can connect the dots to their positions and votes when the big-box grocery ban comes up in November and their campaign donation filings showing who gave big bucks to their campaigns. Maybe Bob will be available to chair some campaign fund raising committees.
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