Mayor’s Appointments To Non-Charter Commissions Up For A Vote
The Long Beach City Council is slated to vote on mayoral appointments to non-charter commissions at tomorrow’s meeting (February 20). If confirmed, appointments would fill one vacancy on the Long Beach Economic Development Commission, two vacancies on the Technology & Innovation Commission, one vacancy on the Long Beach Transit Board of directors and two vacancies on the Citizens Advisory Commission on Disabilities, as well as two reappointments to the The Long Beach Community Investment Company.
Long Beach Company Expands Real Estate Holdings
Harbor Associates LLC, a Long Beach-based property investment firm, recently purchased two suburban office developments for a combined $56 million. The company acquired a 156,628-square-foot campus in Valencia for $33.1 million in joint venture with Goldman Sachs Asset Management Private Real Estate. In a separate joint venture with Blue Vista Capital Management, Harbor Associates acquired a 198,478-square-foot corporate campus in Thousand Oaks for $22.9 million. The sales brought the investment firm’s office portfolio to more than one million square feet.
Santa Monicans Skeptical Of UNITE HERE Local 11
A poll of 400 Santa Monica residents found that the majority were “deeply skeptical” of UNITE HERE Local 11, a union that represents more than 23,000 hospitality workers in Southern California and Arizona. Self-described “union watchdog organization” the Center for Union Facts released the survey, which also found that 62% of Santa Monica voters oppose the union’s “push for more tall hotels” and 57.6% think that the union should have less influence over the city council. The union has been advocating for collective bargaining agreements at Downtown Long Beach hotels in recent years.
Tax Reform Resulting In Bigger Paychecks For Workers
As of February 15, as many as 90% of American workers are receiving larger paychecks due to federal tax cuts, according to the United States Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Thomas Donohue noted that many companies have given out bonuses, which have benefited three million workers. “Good news for workers is also good news for the entire American economy,” he said. “With a boost in take-home pay, consumers will be able to invest more of their earnings in their families and local economies.”
Increased Demand For Aircraft And Aviation Workers Expected
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the number of passengers flying will increase to 4.3 billion in 2018, while air cargo grows to 62.5 million tons. The 2017 Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook indicates North America will need hundreds of thousands of new pilots, aircraft technicians and cabin crew employees over the next 20 years.
CORRECTION: In Friday’s BizBrief, the item “DLBA Reports Continued Interest In Downtown Residential Market” incorrectly stated that recently completed residential developments, such as The Current and The Edison, are nearing “full vacancy.” Rather, they are nearing full occupancy, with The Current and The Edison being 90% and 88% occupied, respectively, according to the Downtown Long Beach Alliance report.