The future of retail in downtown Long Beach was the recemt topic for 1st District Councilman Robert Garcia and about 80 residents and small business owners.
" One of the reasons I ran for the City Council was because of my frustration with the direction the city was taking in regards to attracting quality retailers to our downtown," Garcia said in a message.
"Many of us who live in downtown have witnessed multiple failed attempts by the city to put together a strategic retail recruitment initiative," he complained.
"Before I joined the City Council, the city hired a retail consultant for downtown paying over $125,000 to do absolutely nothing," Garcia charged. "Those days are hopefully over."
Garcia praised the "commitment" of the Downtown Long Beach Associates and of the residents, resulting in a new Retail Visioning project that is intended to develop a cohesive, collaborative, and market-based retail recruitment vision and strategy for downtown.
"We are working together to make downtown a destination for shopping, dining and entertainment," Garcia said.
Residents can still get involved in this process, by attending the upcoming 6-8 p.m. community strategy meeting on Jan. 6 at the First Congregational Church.
For more information, call the Downtown Long Beach Associates at 562.436-4259.
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