This week’s episode of the Long Beach Business Podcast takes on the issue of commercial vacancy fees. Some cities, including New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., have considered a tax or fee billed to landlords whose commercial properties, especially storefronts and retail spaces, have remained empty for an extended amount of time. Long Beach City Councilmember Al Austin has asked city staff to look into this option to combat lingering vacancies across the city, but the concept has garnered few supporters among property owners and the city’s economic development commissioners.

To listen to the newest episode, click here. The podcast can also be found on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and Stitcher.