First in a series
[img]1305|right|Andy Weissman||no_popup[/img]While several participants in last week’s real estate-centric Future of Culver City panel in the Hayden Tract called the evening a “lovefest,” City Councilman Andy Weissman, known for his straight-ahead style, tagged it differently.
“It was worthwhile because there were nearly 400 people in attendance,” Mr. Weissman said. “All of them have relationships with people who have business interests in Culver City. Or they have clients who would like to have business interests here.
“Having the quality of panelists talking glowingly of their collective experiences in Culver City the last 15 or 20 years, speaks volumes about the environment in our community. “This is especially true when compared to adjacent cities that may not receive the same evaluations for convenience in doing business, for dealing with inherent bureaucracy, or in terms of value for getting what you pay for.”
Mr. Weissman, the keynote speaker, said the main message was, “Culver City is a tremendous place to be. Come on down.”
As a putative insider, in his fourth decade at City Hall, “I always have said Culver City is an easier place to do business than Los Angeles or other surrounding communities.
“It was refreshing to hear that universal sentiment from the panel – (Michael Hackman, Jeffrey Elliot Palmer, Thomas Wulf, Brad Gross, Wally Marks, Kevin Lachoff, Frederik Smith and moderator Daman Juha) – that their real-life experiences mirror the cheerleading.
“It is not just the city or the Chamber of Commerce telling people what a tremendous place Culver City is to do business. It is the people who themselves have done business.”
Why is it easier here?
“The point made by the panel,” said Mr. Weissman, “was that bureaucracy is a fact of life. They said that the accessibility and the willingness of people in City Hall to problem-solve was a pleasant change from the ‘no, you can’t do that’ attitude they have encountered elsewhere.”
(To be continued)
