Second in a series
Previously, “Politically Speaking, the Chamber Ain’t What It Used to be”
No one should be surprised that the political temperature of the Chamber of Commerce sharply — liberally — has changed in recent years, says chief executive Steve Rose.
“”The Chamber represents the Culver City business community,” he says, “and the business community reflects the sub-regional area where Culver City is located.
“We have bankers, studio execs, home-based businesses on our board, and architectural firms, a whole array of businesses.
“The Culver City Chamber reminds me of what an old car ad used to say: ‘We are not your father’s Chamber.’
“Society is changing,” said Mr. Rose, one of the community’s prominent Republicans, “and business is on the leading edge of that change.”
He cited examples of new-direction thinking by the business group.
“The Chamber is pushing the city to do more business e-waste roundups because there is a need for increasing them,” said Mr. Rose. “The Chamber supported the initial biodegradable recycling program that Sony and the city are doing.
“Green is part of an entire business plan.”
To what degree has Culver City commerce been affected by the recession?
“Individuals in the community have been hit, if not directly, at least they have a feeling of less wealth.
“I believe the city will be hit when and if the current City Council understands the true ramifications of what is going on globally and how it will affect us here in Culver City.
“Intel reported last week they feel the economy has bottomed out. They did not say the economy was bouncing back. I think the bottom we are experiencing is a new floor. We are going to be at this floor much longer than people think.
“Looking at this as a new reality, I am adjusting the Chamber’s programs and outlooks to meet the current reality. I am not going back to reading the writings of Karl Marx and Che Guevara, and hoping that is what’s going to happen.”
Is Culver City insulated from the most wrenching portions of a downturn — or is that an urban legend?
“Insulation is an urban myth.
“In the first quarter, the city lost three of its top 15 sales-tax producers. Without having inside information, I have to assume that is $1 million in sales tax loss that is not coming back.
“I am talking about Hooman Nissani’s car dealership, Circuit City and a company called Carl Storz, a medical equipment manufacturer. They had their world sales headquarters here.
“Which leads me to this:
“City Hall, the business community and, to some extent, residents have to sit down and ask whether our taxing method, as a city and a state, meets the current business standards, which have been changed by the internet and by technology?
“Many people complain about not having bookstores in Culver City. Yet they buy their books on Amazon. Things are changing. Sales taxes are going down.
“As a kid, we remember spending afternoons in music stores, listening to records. You don’t do that anymore. The one or two CD sales sources, Best Buy and Target, probably are going to go away in the next couple of years. More lost revenue.
“As people change their driving habits, and it is announced that one-third of auto dealers need to go away because there are too many of them — all of that is a direct reflection on revenues that cities, counties and states count on. They are going away, to the internet.
“I believe a rational discussion needs to be organized to examine changes of taxing to pay for perceived societal needs.”
Last autumn, the Chamber of Commerce endorsed the liberal Democrat, Mark Ridley-Thomas, over the more conservative Bernard Parks in the race for County Supervisor. Was that a difficult choice to make?
“It was the first time the Chamber endorsed in a Supervisorial race, and it was the first time the seat has been open in 16 years.
“The Chamber, the authoritative voice of business in Culver City, had built up a relationship with then-state Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas. We may not agree with him all the time. But he took the time to listen to our concerns. Maybe he could do minor changes to help the local business community.”
Mr. Parks portrayed himself as much more business-friendly than his opponent, and more conservative philosophically? Was that persuasive? Was the Chamber’s endorsement more for Mr. Ridley-Thomas or more against Mr. Parks?
“Supervisor Ridley-Thomas came to us, seeking our endorsement. He was willing to sit down at a debate. But we weren’t quite as successful at getting Councilmember Parks there.
“The board endorsed Supervisor Ridley-Thomas without the traditional interview process.
“As for Supervisor Ridley-Thomas’s former state Senate seat that opened up, there were nine candidates. Three solicited our endorsement. We interviewed four candidates, (Assemblyman) Curren Price, (Assemblyman) Mike Davis and Rabbi Nachum Shifren. Since an elected Culver City representative was running, we invited (School Board member) Saundra Davis.
“We gave each of them 20 minutes, and Rich Hibbs, our Chair of the Board, asked all four the same questions.
“The board overwhelmingly supported Curren Price,” a liberal Democrat who is lopsidedly favored to win the special election on May 19.
