Friday's statewide jobless numbers -- a duck-for-cover 10.5 percent -- reminded me of the downturn of 2001.
In the months following 9/11, many Long Beach merchants reported 30 percent to 40 percent sales declines.
Dealers couldn't move cars. Restaurants couldn't fill tables. Hotel rooms sat empty.
Then-Mayor Beverly O'Neill partnered with the city's Economic Development Bureau on a "Re-Discover Long Beach" campaign.
O'Neill advocated overnighters in Long Beach hotels, eating in local restaurants and shopping inside city limits. In November 2001, O'Neill told me she visited about 20 restaurants.
"It's important that they know it's safe to come out in Long Beach and help our economy, too," she said then.
I am not sure how much of an impact the campaign had, but it raised awareness about the service-sector employees who rely on consumer spending and City Hall's reliance on sales and bed taxes.
Stay-cation at the QM
Though I don't recall O'Neill using the term "stay-cation" to describe in-town trips, the term is in the lexicon.
And the Queen Mary is pitching it.
The attraction, in partnership with the Aquarium of the Pacific and Radio Disney AM 1110, is offering a "spring break" stay-cation package to Southern California residents.
The $149 package is available through April 26 and includes a one-night stay at the Hotel Queen Mary; two tickets to the ship's "Ghosts & Legends" show; two children's tickets, and discounted adult tickets, to the Aquarium of the Pacific; tickets to other attractions; and gifts.
Information is at (800) 437-2934 and www.queenmary.com under the promo code SOCAL.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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