April 8, 2025 • 32 mins
A major new amphitheater is coming to Long Beach—but at what cost? In this episode, we break down the controversy surrounding the Queen Mary Amphitheater, the funding concerns, and whether it will actually bring major artists to Long Beach.
💬 What do you think—will this project be a game-changer or a financial mess? Let us know!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Announcer (00:01):
All in Long Beach, we're breaking it down.
News and events from all around town.
Business, politics, lifestyle too.
Food and fun, we bring it to you.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (00:16):
And right now I'm pleased to welcome to the program,
the All In Long Beach podcast, if you'vebeen anywhere in downtown, I'm sure you've
come across her one way or another, ifyou ever shop at the Vons over there on
Broadway in downtown, you see her faceevery time you check out at the line at
the supermarket, she's a local realtor,she's been around in Long Beach for
Almost 15 years doing all sorts of things.
(00:39):
She's the president of the PromenadeArea Residents Association and is
also a local realtor and has so manyother projects just under her belt.
, ladies and gentlemen,welcome to the program.
Debra Kahookele.
Welcome to All in Long Beach.
Debra Kahookele (00:51):
Hi, Stuart.
Thank you so much.
I'm so excited to be here.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (00:55):
Yeah, I'm really happy to have you here.
And I, and I, and I really want to kindof like get a little bit into your,
your, your thoughts and your conceptson some of these big issues that's
happening in Long Beach this week.
So Deb, with you being in downtown LongBeach, this first item I want to talk
to you about kind of hits especiallyclose to home because it affects a lot of
the stuff that you're doing down there.
And there's all this talk that Mayor RexRichardson announced in a State of the
(01:17):
City address just a couple weeks ago aboutthis new amphitheater that's happening
in downtown over by the Queen Mary.
So this is I think rather kindof exciting, but there's so
many question marks as to whatis actually happening here.
Like I'm reading this report herefrom the Long Beach Watchdog and it
(01:37):
says they don't even know where themoney is coming from and they don't
even know how much it's going to cost.
So how, how in the heck can you announcethis project without having any idea
how it's going to get paid for, withoutany idea how long it's going to take?
I mean, I'm just, I'm, I'm completelyflabbergasted at this process.
Debra Kahookele (01:56):
Yeah, um, I think a lot of residents are like, like, it's kind of
split a lot of them are excited about it.
And then you have the ones whoare concerned about like all the
logistics of it for the noise andeverything else because there's a
lot of residences here in downtown.
But yeah, for as far as thefunds, I don't think that that has
(02:17):
been disclosed or, or anything.
It's just been announced that, hey,there's this, you know, Long Beach is
going to be this, uh, entertainmentMecca and this entertainment center is
going to be brought, like, I believeit's like the end of this year.
Uh, according
Stuart - All In Long Beach (02:34):
to this article here, it says that they're going
to be open by this fall, fall of 2025.
Debra Kahookele (02:39):
Yep, don't know, I mean, if you're gonna, like,
compete with entertainment outside,you know, to, to pull them from L.
A.,
because that's what we're, I believethe city's, like, envision is, that, you
know, you can't kind of build somethingkind of like, uh, half, halfway.
It's gotta be, it's gotta be in a bigenough, , quality enough to pull in those
(03:06):
artists that, uh, we want to pull fromLA because again, the big ones, I, I
know I've heard that they can't doublebook so many miles from the distance,
but there's plenty of entertainment.
Uh, that we can actually have here.
We can get back to being thetourist city that we want.
But again, how are they going todo this by the end of the year?
(03:29):
Uh, what's it going to look like?
Is it going to be qualityenough to pull in the type of
entertainments that we need to?
And yes, where is the money coming from?
Stuart - All In Long Beach (03:37):
Well, you said something that's interesting that,
um, I didn't realize maybe we can go intothis, but you talked about double booking.
What, what is that and why is thatmatter here with this project?
Debra Kahookele (03:48):
Well, I've, I've been, I've been told or, uh, from some of my
friends in the entertainment businessthat when, um, Uh, an entertainer or
group books like at the Staple Centeror, um, I believe the Hollywood Bowl,
stuff like that, things they are, theysigned a contract to where so many miles
out, they can't, book another venuewith an X amount of distance and time
(04:12):
frame and we are within that distance.
So that's.
That's kind of why where you see alot of, uh, entertainers going to L.
A.,
but they're white.
If they're there, whycan't we have them here?
And I believe it's because of that, uh,contract clause that they are signing.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (04:28):
Oh, it's going to be, they won't be able
to perform both at the HollywoodBowl and at the Long Beach Bowl.
They would have to choose which one theywant to go to because they can't do both.
Debra Kahookele (04:37):
Correct.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (04:38):
Yes.
And so when you're competing with suchiconic venues, like the Hollywood Bowl,
that's been doing this for years andyears and years, it's so iconic, has
such a history, as opposed to this littletemporary thing, I mean, yeah, it's
great, we're going to have a wonderfulbackdrop of the Queen Mary and all that,
but these performers have to choosebetween going to a iconic location like
(05:00):
the Hollywood Bowl, or something new.
That's going to be happening over here.
So that's a, that's a very big askfrom some of these larger performers
that are kind of accustomed tocertain, um, venue qualities, I guess.
Debra Kahookele (05:17):
Yeah.
Um, they're going to have topick and choose kind of where,
you know, where they want to be.
Uh, we're going to have to make itenticing enough to be able to have,
uh, These entertainers choose LongBeach over any other venue that
has had history, that can pull inthe crowds, uh, and all of that.
(05:38):
Um, I'm looking at the picture, kindof the rendering that they have, uh,
that they showed at the, um, uh, therecent, uh, State of the City, and
I noticed some of the, uh, props onthere are kind of from coming from the
convention center, which is interesting.
Um, so, um, I mean, If you itlooks like they're staging.
(06:01):
I don't know if the stage is goingto be permanent or temporarily.
It looks like it may be, you know,temporarily in order for it to
happen by the end of this year.
Um, yeah, the stage looks the stagelooks like a common typical stage.
Stuart - All In Long Beach: You know, it's interesting. (06:18):
undefined
It's interesting.
You said it looks like the conventioncenter because the company that
was just selected by the citycouncil to run and manage and book.
It is also the same company thatmanages the convention center.
So when you say it kind of lookssimilar, well, now, now, you know why.
Debra Kahookele (06:34):
Yeah, the props that they kind of put in the renderings look
like the giant, you know, types of propsthat they have at the convention center.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (06:41):
Now, I know a lot of people who are
probably against this project.
They're going to say, well,where's the money coming from?
And according to this article here on LongBeach Watchdog, it says that the money
is going to come from, quote, internalborrowing from available reserves.
That's the quote, which wouldthen repay, which would then be
repaid using proceeds from theamphitheater, amphitheater operations.
(07:03):
Um, so basically, they're taking money.
We already have reinvesting itinto this program, hoping that it
will be profitable enough that wewill be able to pay ourselves back.
So basically, the city isself funding this project.
A lot of people who are goingto be against this project.
I'm going to say.
We've been screaming about, uh, thehomeless problems, fixing our potholes,
our roads, we've been screaming aboutpublic safety, why can't we use this
(07:26):
money for more cops or more firefightersor whatever, why are we going to take
this money that, that exists, and that'savailable, and put it into this project
that we don't even know if it's going tobe profitable or not, and, and why don't
we just take this money and fix someof the bigger problems that we've been
having for years and years and years?
What do you think about that?
Debra Kahookele (07:45):
Um, I, I, I feel It's another avenue that the city, since the
city kind of figured about the oil, themoney from the oils are going to be,
you know, kind of like diminishing, it'san avenue for the city to bring in more
revenue, even though it's self funding,it's paying Peter to pay Paul, you know,
from one department moving money around.
(08:05):
I feel that this.
The city feels and I andI feel I like this idea.
I do.
Uh, that the revenue from it isgoing to supersede from, you know,
kind of moving some funds around.
My, my concern is just that the pushfor this, uh, is happening so fast.
(08:29):
I mean, I believe I was just atthe Queen Mary, like not even Two
weeks ago, three weeks ago, and itdidn't look like there was any type
of construction going on at all.
Um, it looks like, you know, allthose little outer buildings that
were there for, uh, some winter thing.
Those were still there.
So.
(08:50):
Um, you know, it takes time to builda quality event, uh, and not just
kind of like, just put up a temporarystructure if, for it to succeed.
So I mean, again, if this works outwell, I think this is going to be,
you know, a great thing for the city.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (09:09):
I think it absolutely would be
a great thing for the city.
I think that bringing in the musicand just competing with LA on a
lot of these bigger Shows it'sgoing to be great for the city.
But yeah, I think what you said is right.
Um, we're moving so fast and we'renot looking at all the we're not
looking at all the dots on theeyes and crossing the T's yet.
(09:30):
It's just so many variables and itis moving very, very fast, which is
exciting to show that a governmentorganization can actually move fast when
they want something done as opposed todragging their heels years and years.
It shows that yes, you canactually get something done
if you wanted to get it done.
And so.
Remember that next time these guysgoes, well, this is a long and
complicated and difficult process.
(09:50):
It's like it doesn't have to be
Debra Kahookele (09:51):
Yes, definitely always remember this how fast that
they've you know What is that goingto be like probably like six seven
months that they can get this done.
Um, Yes, so I think um, youknow, uh if they can get Through
the logistics of the sound.
It looks like they're facing the stage theright way, which is away from the city.
(10:13):
Um, and it looks like thatit's covered a pretty big area.
My, my thing is, uh, I guessthey would have to bus people in.
Because 10-12 thousand people.
There's not enough parkingimmediately right there.
So, uh, they are going to have some,uh, uh, logistics there for parking,
(10:34):
which, you know, they've had events thereand they bust people in from downtown
the different parking structures.
So that will have to be somethingof, you know, how regularly are
they going to have these concerts.
That's another part that they're going tohave to think about if they're going to
constantly have these shuttles that runover to the Queen Mary on a regular basis.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (10:56):
The article is saying that they expect to be
able to have 40 to 50 events a year.
At this at this venue.
So we're looking at maybe once a weekonce, uh, you know, every, you know,
with a few exceptions, but it seems likethis is going to be an ongoing thing.
And you mentioned theissue about the noise.
And yes, I'm looking at the renderings andthe stage is pointing away from downtown.
(11:17):
So the guests are viewing are lookingat the skyline of downtown Long Beach.
The stage is facing the port,which means the speakers are
facing the port of Long Beach.
And so that presents anotherconcern that I would have.
And, you know, the port is a.
24 hour around the clock operation,and they work in some very
dangerous conditions over there.
And is this music that's going to beblaring straight into their workplace,
(11:41):
going to create workplace hazardsfor those workers from communication?
Can they be able to hear each other?
Are they going to be able to communicate?
You know, they're using big tools andbig machinery doing really dangerous
work where communication is key.
And is this going to affect theirability to do their job safely?
Debra Kahookele (11:59):
Yeah, I mean, that's a really important, uh, thing to consider.
Uh, you have, you know,you know, with a venue.
I've worked on quite a few venues towhere this level of venue, you're going
to have to have dedicated channels.
The music is going to be loud.
You're going to have shipsvery, very close by that are
(12:20):
guiding, you know, major.
Major ships in and communication is goingto be Q and anything interrupts that
you can have a catastrophic incident.
Yeah, I'm sure that and I'm hoping thatthey have considered that I'm sure that
they have with the port working handin hand on this in regards to making
(12:43):
sure that that is a major priority.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (12:46):
You know, I haven't seen anything.
I haven't seen any comments or heardanything public or private from
anyone who works at the port about howthis might affect their operations.
So either they don't think it will,which I don't think that's true, or
they're being very tight lipped aboutit because of the political climate
that everyone's in here, you know.
Debra Kahookele (13:07):
Yeah, I think, um, uh, it's like kind of like
a, an announcement hoorah.
We got this.
And then as the community startsbringing up these questions, uh,
they will, uh, address them publicly.
Mm-hmm . So I'm sure thatthey're addressing them.
I'm already.
I'm hoping they are.
(13:27):
But again, why bring upsomething if it's not brought up.
So, uh, you know, I think that they'rekind of waiting to see how the public
reacts and their concerns and everything.
But yeah, I think that the publicshould have answers on regards to how
much is this really going to cost.
Um, and.
(13:49):
Where exactly are they going to movethe money around from logistically?
Have they looked at, uh, and arethey in communication with the port?
How does the port feel about this?
What are the concerns?
Everything.
Um, what about the, uh, noise issuesthat they already have with the
neighboring people, uh, with theother concerts that they've had there?
(14:10):
Um, you know, how arethey, uh, addressing that?
Um, what about traffic flowand immediately downtown?
Um, those are major thingsthat need to be considered.
And, but I, I mean, overall, I thinkthe project is a great project.
I just hope that they don't rushthis to a point to where they
don't pinpoint all of those to makethis project succeed, you know.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (14:35):
Well, only time will tell, but that fall deadline is
going to come around really, really quick.
And I think we're going toknow in the next month or two,
whether this is even going to befeasible for for that deadline.
Debra Kahookele (14:45):
Yeah, I'm hoping that it's not something they
announce and then all of a sudden,like, uh, you know, maybe, uh,
down the road it doesn't happen.
And I think that was somethingthat recently happened like that.
The Hard Rock Cafe.
The Hard Rock Cafe.
All of a sudden that went silent.
That whole thing went silent.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (15:05):
Yeah, because they said that's going to
be open for the Olympics in 2028,which is now three years away.
You know, that project, which Idon't want to get into that, but
that, that's way off track too.
That's not going to behappening by the Olympics.
And if it does get built in thisshort two year, two and a half year
window, um, after it goes through allthe council zoning, all the approval,
city, California coast commission,all the other kinds of stuff that it's
(15:27):
probably going to have to go through.
I don't know if I want to set foot inthat building because it's, uh, you
know, you know, so anyways, that's that.
We're talking with, uh, Debra Kahookele,uh, downtown, Long Beach, uh, every.
Where and here's somethingnew from Long Beach 4D.
blogspot.
(15:47):
com.
I'm not sure what this is.
It says it's an independent civic forum.
If I don't know where who's runningthis, but they are talking about
this new thing that's coming out isthe city of Long Beach and they've
basically proposed huge rate increase.
We're talking about a 64 percentrate increase that's going to
(16:07):
start on August 1st for thosenew little green recycling bins.
It's for the green wastebins and stuff like that.
So they're rolling them out.
Some people already have them.
Um, and because of this project, it hasto do with, uh, getting in alignment
with, uh, state, uh, Senate Bill1383, the organic green waste program.
It's going to increase your monthly bill.
(16:30):
64 percent starting in August.
Debra Kahookele (16:33):
Yeah.
Um, I, I read that article and.
Um, it was a little, I mean, nota little, it was, it was a lot
shocking, a 64 percent rate increase.
I mean, we can go on and talkabout all the other rate increases.
Again, this is just another ratecrease that the city is putting on
(16:55):
to the residences, and I don't knowhow known this is out there with
everybody because, uh, When I talk topeople, they have no clue about this.
And what's also interesting is that thereis, you know, a way to actually voice
our opinion through a petition on it.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (17:14):
Yeah, so right here it says that Long Beach is set up.
And when it says Long Beach, I don'tknow if this is the city of Long Beach.
Or if this is community residents ofLong Beach, or if it's this group.
I don't know who set this up, but itsays Long Beach has set up an online
Proposition 218 protest site with theform to fill out to protest the rate.
So, um, what do you know aboutthe Green Waste protest, or
(17:37):
do you know anything about it?
Debra Kahookele (17:39):
Um, no, just from the article, uh, that came out
that said that you can either,um, I believe you can write in.
Um, I'm looking at it now or youcan go onto that website and And
put your name, I believe it is.
Um, and basically the vote is theywill review all the protests, uh, March
(18:05):
11th, 2025 at the city council meeting.
Um, and so they're, you know, Dependingon, you know, your, your individual
feeling about this, uh, you can, you know,voice your opinion through the protest.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (18:20):
Right.
And here it says in 1996, Californiavoters adopted Proposition 218, which
among other things, establishes aspecific process for cities to impose
or increase certain types of rates.
So the prop also, uh, says propertyrelated rates are subject to a noticed
period hearing and majority protest.
(18:41):
process, which is basicallywhat we're in right now.
So as a property owner, and this is,I think, important to note, this is
for property owners, not renters.
As a property owner, you havea right to submit a protest to
the proposed rate adjustment.
So the way that this one worksis you can go to their protest.
There's a site here that I actually found.
(19:01):
And so you have to submit a protest.
To the city clerk's office at 411 WestOcean Boulevard, Long Beach, 90802.
It has to be postmarked by 2.
30 p.
m.
on March 11th, 2025.
So we still have, well,pretty much into January here.
So we have, uh, all of February,maybe, uh, 11 days in March to get your
(19:23):
comment, to get your protest in here.
So it just needs to be your nameand your account information.
It's right here.
It needs to be a form that says youprotest the proposed green waste
program, your name, your accountnumber, and the address, and send
it to the city of Long Beach.
Debra Kahookele (19:42):
Yeah, I believe it's, uh, I'm looking at it too.
It's on the longbeach.
gov website.
Stuart - All In Long Beach: But here's, here's my question. (19:47):
undefined
It doesn't say how many peopleor what percentage of property
owners need to write in to be ableto make this protest effective.
I can't, I can't seemto find that anywhere.
So it's like, I'm going to writethis in there, but do they need
what, like 51 percent is a vastmajority of property owners?
Or does it need to be a super majority?
Or does it just need to, like,how many people does it take?
(20:10):
And it doesn't say that on here anywhere.
Debra Kahookele (20:11):
Yeah, um, I'm trying to read through it, too.
It doesn't tell you whatpercentage that they need to get
Stuart - All In Long Beach: whatever percentage. (20:17):
undefined
I think if you're a property ownerin Long Beach, you need to get online
and you need to get this done, right?
And it's weird that you have to do it.
Via mail because this this app came hereand like I said, it was, uh, uh, 1996.
So that was pretty much pre internet days.
So it's definitely, you know, print outa piece of paper or to get a newspaper,
write all your stuff down there and thenand mail it to the city clerk's office.
(20:38):
But again, we don't know how many we need.
So is this even a possible thing to do?
Or is this just like an impossible?
Debra Kahookele (20:44):
Well, I think you actually can go online and just fill
in your name, account number address,which you were saying, and that would
account for as you protesting this.
Stuart - All In Long Beach: Oh, so you can do it online. (20:53):
undefined
Debra Kahookele (20:55):
Please fill out the information below if you wish to protest
the proposed rate adjustments online.
All fields must be entered foryour protest to be accepted.
So it does give you, uh, right beforeyou start filling in the blanks,
that sentence before that says that.
Stuart - All In Long Beach: That's fantastic that there's an (21:09):
undefined
easy way to be able to do this.
So you can just go to longbeach.
gov and we'll put the linksin the show notes, actually.
So you can just go over here andyou just need your refuse number.
Yeah.
I'm looking at it right now, theaddress, and just basically say,
Hey, I ain't down with this.
Debra Kahookele (21:25):
Yeah, I think, um, we need everybody to get the word out on
this because again, um, I don't know, uh,it's, you know, that's one of the, the,
the issues, uh, I think is communication,getting the word out to all the,
everybody out there to be able to have anopinion, you know, voice their opinion.
And this is something again,uh, that is going to cost, you
(21:48):
know, you know, taxpayers money.
Um, and, you know, I feel like it's.
It's going to slide through.
So we need to get the word outabout this for everybody who does,
uh, want to protest it to be ableto have an opportunity to prevent
to keep money in their pocket or,you know, to, to allow to be able
(22:09):
to keep more money in their pocket.
Stuart - All In Long Beach: You know, one last question. (22:11):
undefined
I don't, we're running out oftime here, but I don't want to.
You don't have to answer, but thequestion that I have is if it is
successful in, um, batting down the 60,uh, 61 percent 64 percent rate increase.
It's like if it is successful thatmoney still has to come from somewhere.
So where is it going to come from?
You know, so someone still has to paythe bill and if it's not going to be.
(22:33):
Uh, the property owners, then who is it?
So anyways, it sounds like the moneyis going to have to be paid out.
It's just a matter of who andhow and what they're going to do.
Uh, one last topic here while wehave Deb, you're on the line here.
We have about nine minutesremaining in this conversation.
Um, I found this.
On the Long Beach food scene,Facebook group, and it really
(22:53):
kind of got me thinking.
So let me read this to you real quick.
It says, Hey guys, if you're in themood for some delicious Mexican, Mexican
American food made with love and alsolooking to support a family owned
and struggling restaurant, stay open.
Please come eat at.
Uh, Villa Lobos Kitchen herein Long Beach on Market Street.
We work next door, we've orderedeverything, everything is made fresh.
(23:14):
They've, uh, the children's chickenstrips are hand breaded, the hamburgers.
It goes into this whole, uh, topicabout how great their food is.
But this is what really got to me.
It says, The owners, who are husband andwife, greet you like family, and they
wait on you with so much care and love.
When asked the owner how businesseshave been doing since being there, and
(23:36):
from my They have a five star ratingon Yelp and the oldest review I found
was like October 20, 2023, 2023, whichkind of tells me they've been around
for about 15 or 16 months or so.
It says, when we asked the ownerhow business has been doing, you
can see the disappointment inhis face when he admittedly said
it's been extremely difficult.
(24:00):
And so my question, I alwayswonder is, do you have this.
Family, that's probably put everythingthey have into this restaurant
that they're very, very proud of.
They go through the healthdepartment inspections, which is
not a walk in the park by any means.
You go through the lease negotiations,setting up the kitchens, you know,
you go through this entire process.
You spend a lot of money even beforeyou make a dime and you put your
(24:22):
blood, sweat and tears into this thing.
And they're struggling, but yet westill have all these illegal food
vendors popping up on sidewalks,you know, that the city doesn't
seem to be caring anything about.
They leave messes on the ground,they're blocking up traffic, they're
trespassing on private property, they'redoing all these things and just making
a buck where you have hardworkingfamilies like this family here that
(24:43):
owns the restaurant struggling becausethey're trying to do everything right.
Debra Kahookele (24:47):
Yeah, I read that article and I have not personally ate there yet.
But again, I'm, I am now and uh, I, Ihear this story pretty often along, you
know, with from restaurants, uh, from,you know, like the owners of the workers
in regards to like, um, they, You know,they're struggling, you know, they're not,
(25:12):
you know, the lone wolves here, a lot ofour restaurants are struggling to where,
why, you know, they, they, you brought upthe point with the, uh, the food carts,
they are, they feel, you know, it's kindof like a 50, 52 again, they like them.
Uh, but again, as long as they're notright in front of their restaurant,
as long as they're not like, uh, youknow, pulling, you know, uh, pulling
(25:37):
the business away too close from them.
They think that they, they, theyfeel as long as they're regulated,
they're feeling, they're,they're following the laws.
Permits and everything like they have tobecause they have their brick and mortar.
They have to pay these fees,everything they fill the carts,
they want to be a small business.
They need to follow those samerules to, um, uh, another concern
(26:00):
is that, you know, you know, therestaurants maintain their area.
Uh, for their, you know,clienteles and everything.
I believe the parts and everybodyshould also clean up their areas
and keep it and maintain it.
Uh, that doesn't feel like it's happening.
And is that contributing to, youknow, uh, the areas of making it look
(26:22):
kind of like not as, uh, appealingfor people to come out during the day
because the sidewalks and the streetslook kind of dirty and all that.
Uh, you know, but again,uh, you know, like you said,
this is a Mexican restaurant.
We do most of the carts are kindof, uh, tacos and all that too.
(26:44):
Is there some type of regulationof the different types of food that
compete against each other or not?
I don't know.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (26:51):
You know, this is the thing, you know, right now
the city of Long Beach has a program wherethey're giving free carts away to people.
And they're like saying, here's a freecart that's paid with our dollars that's
come into the city of Long Beach, whichare very, very thin to begin with,
and go ahead and compete with, um,other businesses, um, in the area and,
and make it more difficult for peopletrying to do the things the right way.
Debra Kahookele (27:14):
Yeah.
Um, I, the program, I mean, uh, youknow, if it helps a small business, okay.
But again, I feel from what I'vebeen talking with people is that,
that they're not following the same,you know, rules and regulations
and cleanup and all of that.
(27:34):
But a brick and mortar has to, um, they'reout there, you know, quickly and, and,
and some of these people aren't even fromLong Beach, you know, they come in, they,
you know, they, they, they take our brickand mortar, uh, dollars from the, you
know, our businesses and they don't cleanup and they leave that to city dollars to
(27:54):
have to come over and clean up again too.
And they're, they're gone.
Um, I'm sure not all of them arelike that, but, There needs to be
consistency in regulating them.
There needs to be consistency in,I believe, I, I agree having a taco
place, you know, every half a block.
How, how, how, youknow, effective is that?
(28:16):
for our restaurants during theday that are in the same category.
I mean, you know, they regulate the brickand mortar so you don't have, you know,
the same type of food on every block.
So why are they allowing a same,you know, two or three on the
same block with the carts too?
Stuart - All In Long Beach (28:33):
And you're right, you kind of nailed something.
These carts that are coming in or these,you know, we have food trucks that are
coming in and these carts that are comingin and they don't live in Long Beach.
I'm assuming they have a LongBeach business license, but you
know, these guys are mobile.
They show up for a few hours orthey show up during the dinner rush
and then they bail back out to LAor they bail back to Orange County.
You know, I think we need to doa better job of making sure that.
(28:56):
Hey, the people who are getting these freecards are actually Long Beach residents.
They're operating in the city ofLong Beach and the ones that are
coming into town, you know, arelicensed and able to do business.
But yeah, it is definitely hurting thethe businesses trying to do it right.
And trust me, working with all thesewithin all these permits, you know, so
in my place here, we looked at tryingto do a kitchen expansion and just
(29:18):
going through the entire checklistof what the health department wants,
plus building and safety and allthese other kind of different codes.
We determined that we can just buy afood truck or a food cart, like, you
know, something that you would towbehind a car and we can do that for
like 20 grand, where it would costus about 100, 000 to actually rebuild
our kitchen and upgrade our kitchen.
(29:40):
It's, it's absolutely insane theway that, um, each of these are
favored and how they were, noone's competing on the same level.
Debra Kahookele (29:48):
Yeah.
Um, I read an articlerecently that the, uh.
The first sidewalk vending carts wereawarded, um, to small businesses, and
they are Long Beach, which is great,uh, and I think this is a good program
as long as they continue to regulatethat they, what's being awarded are
Long Beach businesses, but I believe,I mean, not I believe, but I feel that
(30:11):
there needs to be a sweeping regulationwith I mean, these ladies and, uh, that
were awarded, I'm sure that they'refollowing, you know, dotting their I's
and crossing their T's, but then you getsomeone on the next block that isn't.
And it's just, you know, it's just, it'ssuch a, you know, um, Unbalanced type
(30:31):
of regulation with carts, uh, that Ithink they just, they need to fine tune
that a lot because it's not just costingbusinesses, it's costing the city cleanup.
Because I walk by uh, during the daytimein the sidewalks, uh, the, the grease
pits, the, the, the, the The trash.
It's just, it's just so unappealingthat that is not wanting people to
(30:57):
come to the day and how much of that isaffecting our, our businesses, our brick
and mortar businesses during the day.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (31:03):
We've been talking with Deb Kahookele.
She's a local realtor and a communityactivist in downtown Long Beach, and it's
just pretty much been known everywhere.
Deb, thanks so much for joining ustoday on the All in Long Beach podcast.
This episode, this segment is called Onthe Agenda, where we're talking about city
politics and everything that's happening.
Thanks for joining us today.
I really appreciate your inputand, um, and your insights.
Debra Kahookele (31:24):
Yeah, thank you.
It was lots of fun.
Thank you for having me.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (31:27):
You got it.
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All in Long Beach, we're breaking it down.
News and events from all around town.
Business, politics, lifestyle too.
Food and fun, we bring it to you.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (00:16):
And right now I'm pleased to welcome to the program,
the All In Long Beach podcast, if you'vebeen anywhere in downtown, I'm sure you've
come across her one way or another, ifyou ever shop at the Vons over there on
Broadway in downtown, you see her faceevery time you check out at the line at
the supermarket, she's a local realtor,she's been around in Long Beach for
Almost 15 years doing all sorts of things.
(00:39):
She's the president of the PromenadeArea Residents Association and is
also a local realtor and has so manyother projects just under her belt.
, ladies and gentlemen,welcome to the program.
Debra Kahookele.
Welcome to All in Long Beach.
Debra Kahookele (00:51):
Hi, Stuart.
Thank you so much.
I'm so excited to be here.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (00:55):
Yeah, I'm really happy to have you here.
And I, and I, and I really want to kindof like get a little bit into your,
your, your thoughts and your conceptson some of these big issues that's
happening in Long Beach this week.
So Deb, with you being in downtown LongBeach, this first item I want to talk
to you about kind of hits especiallyclose to home because it affects a lot of
the stuff that you're doing down there.
And there's all this talk that Mayor RexRichardson announced in a State of the
(01:17):
City address just a couple weeks ago aboutthis new amphitheater that's happening
in downtown over by the Queen Mary.
So this is I think rather kindof exciting, but there's so
many question marks as to whatis actually happening here.
Like I'm reading this report herefrom the Long Beach Watchdog and it
(01:37):
says they don't even know where themoney is coming from and they don't
even know how much it's going to cost.
So how, how in the heck can you announcethis project without having any idea
how it's going to get paid for, withoutany idea how long it's going to take?
I mean, I'm just, I'm, I'm completelyflabbergasted at this process.
Debra Kahookele (01:56):
Yeah, um, I think a lot of residents are like, like, it's kind of
split a lot of them are excited about it.
And then you have the ones whoare concerned about like all the
logistics of it for the noise andeverything else because there's a
lot of residences here in downtown.
But yeah, for as far as thefunds, I don't think that that has
(02:17):
been disclosed or, or anything.
It's just been announced that, hey,there's this, you know, Long Beach is
going to be this, uh, entertainmentMecca and this entertainment center is
going to be brought, like, I believeit's like the end of this year.
Uh, according
Stuart - All In Long Beach (02:34):
to this article here, it says that they're going
to be open by this fall, fall of 2025.
Debra Kahookele (02:39):
Yep, don't know, I mean, if you're gonna, like,
compete with entertainment outside,you know, to, to pull them from L.
A.,
because that's what we're, I believethe city's, like, envision is, that, you
know, you can't kind of build somethingkind of like, uh, half, halfway.
It's gotta be, it's gotta be in a bigenough, , quality enough to pull in those
(03:06):
artists that, uh, we want to pull fromLA because again, the big ones, I, I
know I've heard that they can't doublebook so many miles from the distance,
but there's plenty of entertainment.
Uh, that we can actually have here.
We can get back to being thetourist city that we want.
But again, how are they going todo this by the end of the year?
(03:29):
Uh, what's it going to look like?
Is it going to be qualityenough to pull in the type of
entertainments that we need to?
And yes, where is the money coming from?
Stuart - All In Long Beach (03:37):
Well, you said something that's interesting that,
um, I didn't realize maybe we can go intothis, but you talked about double booking.
What, what is that and why is thatmatter here with this project?
Debra Kahookele (03:48):
Well, I've, I've been, I've been told or, uh, from some of my
friends in the entertainment businessthat when, um, Uh, an entertainer or
group books like at the Staple Centeror, um, I believe the Hollywood Bowl,
stuff like that, things they are, theysigned a contract to where so many miles
out, they can't, book another venuewith an X amount of distance and time
(04:12):
frame and we are within that distance.
So that's.
That's kind of why where you see alot of, uh, entertainers going to L.
A.,
but they're white.
If they're there, whycan't we have them here?
And I believe it's because of that, uh,contract clause that they are signing.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (04:28):
Oh, it's going to be, they won't be able
to perform both at the HollywoodBowl and at the Long Beach Bowl.
They would have to choose which one theywant to go to because they can't do both.
Debra Kahookele (04:37):
Correct.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (04:38):
Yes.
And so when you're competing with suchiconic venues, like the Hollywood Bowl,
that's been doing this for years andyears and years, it's so iconic, has
such a history, as opposed to this littletemporary thing, I mean, yeah, it's
great, we're going to have a wonderfulbackdrop of the Queen Mary and all that,
but these performers have to choosebetween going to a iconic location like
(05:00):
the Hollywood Bowl, or something new.
That's going to be happening over here.
So that's a, that's a very big askfrom some of these larger performers
that are kind of accustomed tocertain, um, venue qualities, I guess.
Debra Kahookele (05:17):
Yeah.
Um, they're going to have topick and choose kind of where,
you know, where they want to be.
Uh, we're going to have to make itenticing enough to be able to have,
uh, These entertainers choose LongBeach over any other venue that
has had history, that can pull inthe crowds, uh, and all of that.
(05:38):
Um, I'm looking at the picture, kindof the rendering that they have, uh,
that they showed at the, um, uh, therecent, uh, State of the City, and
I noticed some of the, uh, props onthere are kind of from coming from the
convention center, which is interesting.
Um, so, um, I mean, If you itlooks like they're staging.
(06:01):
I don't know if the stage is goingto be permanent or temporarily.
It looks like it may be, you know,temporarily in order for it to
happen by the end of this year.
Um, yeah, the stage looks the stagelooks like a common typical stage.
Stuart - All In Long Beach: You know, it's interesting. (06:18):
undefined
It's interesting.
You said it looks like the conventioncenter because the company that
was just selected by the citycouncil to run and manage and book.
It is also the same company thatmanages the convention center.
So when you say it kind of lookssimilar, well, now, now, you know why.
Debra Kahookele (06:34):
Yeah, the props that they kind of put in the renderings look
like the giant, you know, types of propsthat they have at the convention center.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (06:41):
Now, I know a lot of people who are
probably against this project.
They're going to say, well,where's the money coming from?
And according to this article here on LongBeach Watchdog, it says that the money
is going to come from, quote, internalborrowing from available reserves.
That's the quote, which wouldthen repay, which would then be
repaid using proceeds from theamphitheater, amphitheater operations.
(07:03):
Um, so basically, they're taking money.
We already have reinvesting itinto this program, hoping that it
will be profitable enough that wewill be able to pay ourselves back.
So basically, the city isself funding this project.
A lot of people who are goingto be against this project.
I'm going to say.
We've been screaming about, uh, thehomeless problems, fixing our potholes,
our roads, we've been screaming aboutpublic safety, why can't we use this
(07:26):
money for more cops or more firefightersor whatever, why are we going to take
this money that, that exists, and that'savailable, and put it into this project
that we don't even know if it's going tobe profitable or not, and, and why don't
we just take this money and fix someof the bigger problems that we've been
having for years and years and years?
What do you think about that?
Debra Kahookele (07:45):
Um, I, I, I feel It's another avenue that the city, since the
city kind of figured about the oil, themoney from the oils are going to be,
you know, kind of like diminishing, it'san avenue for the city to bring in more
revenue, even though it's self funding,it's paying Peter to pay Paul, you know,
from one department moving money around.
(08:05):
I feel that this.
The city feels and I andI feel I like this idea.
I do.
Uh, that the revenue from it isgoing to supersede from, you know,
kind of moving some funds around.
My, my concern is just that the pushfor this, uh, is happening so fast.
(08:29):
I mean, I believe I was just atthe Queen Mary, like not even Two
weeks ago, three weeks ago, and itdidn't look like there was any type
of construction going on at all.
Um, it looks like, you know, allthose little outer buildings that
were there for, uh, some winter thing.
Those were still there.
So.
(08:50):
Um, you know, it takes time to builda quality event, uh, and not just
kind of like, just put up a temporarystructure if, for it to succeed.
So I mean, again, if this works outwell, I think this is going to be,
you know, a great thing for the city.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (09:09):
I think it absolutely would be
a great thing for the city.
I think that bringing in the musicand just competing with LA on a
lot of these bigger Shows it'sgoing to be great for the city.
But yeah, I think what you said is right.
Um, we're moving so fast and we'renot looking at all the we're not
looking at all the dots on theeyes and crossing the T's yet.
(09:30):
It's just so many variables and itis moving very, very fast, which is
exciting to show that a governmentorganization can actually move fast when
they want something done as opposed todragging their heels years and years.
It shows that yes, you canactually get something done
if you wanted to get it done.
And so.
Remember that next time these guysgoes, well, this is a long and
complicated and difficult process.
(09:50):
It's like it doesn't have to be
Debra Kahookele (09:51):
Yes, definitely always remember this how fast that
they've you know What is that goingto be like probably like six seven
months that they can get this done.
Um, Yes, so I think um, youknow, uh if they can get Through
the logistics of the sound.
It looks like they're facing the stage theright way, which is away from the city.
(10:13):
Um, and it looks like thatit's covered a pretty big area.
My, my thing is, uh, I guessthey would have to bus people in.
Because 10-12 thousand people.
There's not enough parkingimmediately right there.
So, uh, they are going to have some,uh, uh, logistics there for parking,
(10:34):
which, you know, they've had events thereand they bust people in from downtown
the different parking structures.
So that will have to be somethingof, you know, how regularly are
they going to have these concerts.
That's another part that they're going tohave to think about if they're going to
constantly have these shuttles that runover to the Queen Mary on a regular basis.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (10:56):
The article is saying that they expect to be
able to have 40 to 50 events a year.
At this at this venue.
So we're looking at maybe once a weekonce, uh, you know, every, you know,
with a few exceptions, but it seems likethis is going to be an ongoing thing.
And you mentioned theissue about the noise.
And yes, I'm looking at the renderings andthe stage is pointing away from downtown.
(11:17):
So the guests are viewing are lookingat the skyline of downtown Long Beach.
The stage is facing the port,which means the speakers are
facing the port of Long Beach.
And so that presents anotherconcern that I would have.
And, you know, the port is a.
24 hour around the clock operation,and they work in some very
dangerous conditions over there.
And is this music that's going to beblaring straight into their workplace,
(11:41):
going to create workplace hazardsfor those workers from communication?
Can they be able to hear each other?
Are they going to be able to communicate?
You know, they're using big tools andbig machinery doing really dangerous
work where communication is key.
And is this going to affect theirability to do their job safely?
Debra Kahookele (11:59):
Yeah, I mean, that's a really important, uh, thing to consider.
Uh, you have, you know,you know, with a venue.
I've worked on quite a few venues towhere this level of venue, you're going
to have to have dedicated channels.
The music is going to be loud.
You're going to have shipsvery, very close by that are
(12:20):
guiding, you know, major.
Major ships in and communication is goingto be Q and anything interrupts that
you can have a catastrophic incident.
Yeah, I'm sure that and I'm hoping thatthey have considered that I'm sure that
they have with the port working handin hand on this in regards to making
(12:43):
sure that that is a major priority.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (12:46):
You know, I haven't seen anything.
I haven't seen any comments or heardanything public or private from
anyone who works at the port about howthis might affect their operations.
So either they don't think it will,which I don't think that's true, or
they're being very tight lipped aboutit because of the political climate
that everyone's in here, you know.
Debra Kahookele (13:07):
Yeah, I think, um, uh, it's like kind of like
a, an announcement hoorah.
We got this.
And then as the community startsbringing up these questions, uh,
they will, uh, address them publicly.
Mm-hmm . So I'm sure thatthey're addressing them.
I'm already.
I'm hoping they are.
(13:27):
But again, why bring upsomething if it's not brought up.
So, uh, you know, I think that they'rekind of waiting to see how the public
reacts and their concerns and everything.
But yeah, I think that the publicshould have answers on regards to how
much is this really going to cost.
Um, and.
(13:49):
Where exactly are they going to movethe money around from logistically?
Have they looked at, uh, and arethey in communication with the port?
How does the port feel about this?
What are the concerns?
Everything.
Um, what about the, uh, noise issuesthat they already have with the
neighboring people, uh, with theother concerts that they've had there?
(14:10):
Um, you know, how arethey, uh, addressing that?
Um, what about traffic flowand immediately downtown?
Um, those are major thingsthat need to be considered.
And, but I, I mean, overall, I thinkthe project is a great project.
I just hope that they don't rushthis to a point to where they
don't pinpoint all of those to makethis project succeed, you know.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (14:35):
Well, only time will tell, but that fall deadline is
going to come around really, really quick.
And I think we're going toknow in the next month or two,
whether this is even going to befeasible for for that deadline.
Debra Kahookele (14:45):
Yeah, I'm hoping that it's not something they
announce and then all of a sudden,like, uh, you know, maybe, uh,
down the road it doesn't happen.
And I think that was somethingthat recently happened like that.
The Hard Rock Cafe.
The Hard Rock Cafe.
All of a sudden that went silent.
That whole thing went silent.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (15:05):
Yeah, because they said that's going to
be open for the Olympics in 2028,which is now three years away.
You know, that project, which Idon't want to get into that, but
that, that's way off track too.
That's not going to behappening by the Olympics.
And if it does get built in thisshort two year, two and a half year
window, um, after it goes through allthe council zoning, all the approval,
city, California coast commission,all the other kinds of stuff that it's
(15:27):
probably going to have to go through.
I don't know if I want to set foot inthat building because it's, uh, you
know, you know, so anyways, that's that.
We're talking with, uh, Debra Kahookele,uh, downtown, Long Beach, uh, every.
Where and here's somethingnew from Long Beach 4D.
blogspot.
(15:47):
com.
I'm not sure what this is.
It says it's an independent civic forum.
If I don't know where who's runningthis, but they are talking about
this new thing that's coming out isthe city of Long Beach and they've
basically proposed huge rate increase.
We're talking about a 64 percentrate increase that's going to
(16:07):
start on August 1st for thosenew little green recycling bins.
It's for the green wastebins and stuff like that.
So they're rolling them out.
Some people already have them.
Um, and because of this project, it hasto do with, uh, getting in alignment
with, uh, state, uh, Senate Bill1383, the organic green waste program.
It's going to increase your monthly bill.
(16:30):
64 percent starting in August.
Debra Kahookele (16:33):
Yeah.
Um, I, I read that article and.
Um, it was a little, I mean, nota little, it was, it was a lot
shocking, a 64 percent rate increase.
I mean, we can go on and talkabout all the other rate increases.
Again, this is just another ratecrease that the city is putting on
(16:55):
to the residences, and I don't knowhow known this is out there with
everybody because, uh, When I talk topeople, they have no clue about this.
And what's also interesting is that thereis, you know, a way to actually voice
our opinion through a petition on it.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (17:14):
Yeah, so right here it says that Long Beach is set up.
And when it says Long Beach, I don'tknow if this is the city of Long Beach.
Or if this is community residents ofLong Beach, or if it's this group.
I don't know who set this up, but itsays Long Beach has set up an online
Proposition 218 protest site with theform to fill out to protest the rate.
So, um, what do you know aboutthe Green Waste protest, or
(17:37):
do you know anything about it?
Debra Kahookele (17:39):
Um, no, just from the article, uh, that came out
that said that you can either,um, I believe you can write in.
Um, I'm looking at it now or youcan go onto that website and And
put your name, I believe it is.
Um, and basically the vote is theywill review all the protests, uh, March
(18:05):
11th, 2025 at the city council meeting.
Um, and so they're, you know, Dependingon, you know, your, your individual
feeling about this, uh, you can, you know,voice your opinion through the protest.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (18:20):
Right.
And here it says in 1996, Californiavoters adopted Proposition 218, which
among other things, establishes aspecific process for cities to impose
or increase certain types of rates.
So the prop also, uh, says propertyrelated rates are subject to a noticed
period hearing and majority protest.
(18:41):
process, which is basicallywhat we're in right now.
So as a property owner, and this is,I think, important to note, this is
for property owners, not renters.
As a property owner, you havea right to submit a protest to
the proposed rate adjustment.
So the way that this one worksis you can go to their protest.
There's a site here that I actually found.
(19:01):
And so you have to submit a protest.
To the city clerk's office at 411 WestOcean Boulevard, Long Beach, 90802.
It has to be postmarked by 2.
30 p.
m.
on March 11th, 2025.
So we still have, well,pretty much into January here.
So we have, uh, all of February,maybe, uh, 11 days in March to get your
(19:23):
comment, to get your protest in here.
So it just needs to be your nameand your account information.
It's right here.
It needs to be a form that says youprotest the proposed green waste
program, your name, your accountnumber, and the address, and send
it to the city of Long Beach.
Debra Kahookele (19:42):
Yeah, I believe it's, uh, I'm looking at it too.
It's on the longbeach.
gov website.
Stuart - All In Long Beach: But here's, here's my question. (19:47):
undefined
It doesn't say how many peopleor what percentage of property
owners need to write in to be ableto make this protest effective.
I can't, I can't seemto find that anywhere.
So it's like, I'm going to writethis in there, but do they need
what, like 51 percent is a vastmajority of property owners?
Or does it need to be a super majority?
Or does it just need to, like,how many people does it take?
(20:10):
And it doesn't say that on here anywhere.
Debra Kahookele (20:11):
Yeah, um, I'm trying to read through it, too.
It doesn't tell you whatpercentage that they need to get
Stuart - All In Long Beach: whatever percentage. (20:17):
undefined
I think if you're a property ownerin Long Beach, you need to get online
and you need to get this done, right?
And it's weird that you have to do it.
Via mail because this this app came hereand like I said, it was, uh, uh, 1996.
So that was pretty much pre internet days.
So it's definitely, you know, print outa piece of paper or to get a newspaper,
write all your stuff down there and thenand mail it to the city clerk's office.
(20:38):
But again, we don't know how many we need.
So is this even a possible thing to do?
Or is this just like an impossible?
Debra Kahookele (20:44):
Well, I think you actually can go online and just fill
in your name, account number address,which you were saying, and that would
account for as you protesting this.
Stuart - All In Long Beach: Oh, so you can do it online. (20:53):
undefined
Debra Kahookele (20:55):
Please fill out the information below if you wish to protest
the proposed rate adjustments online.
All fields must be entered foryour protest to be accepted.
So it does give you, uh, right beforeyou start filling in the blanks,
that sentence before that says that.
Stuart - All In Long Beach: That's fantastic that there's an (21:09):
undefined
easy way to be able to do this.
So you can just go to longbeach.
gov and we'll put the linksin the show notes, actually.
So you can just go over here andyou just need your refuse number.
Yeah.
I'm looking at it right now, theaddress, and just basically say,
Hey, I ain't down with this.
Debra Kahookele (21:25):
Yeah, I think, um, we need everybody to get the word out on
this because again, um, I don't know, uh,it's, you know, that's one of the, the,
the issues, uh, I think is communication,getting the word out to all the,
everybody out there to be able to have anopinion, you know, voice their opinion.
And this is something again,uh, that is going to cost, you
(21:48):
know, you know, taxpayers money.
Um, and, you know, I feel like it's.
It's going to slide through.
So we need to get the word outabout this for everybody who does,
uh, want to protest it to be ableto have an opportunity to prevent
to keep money in their pocket or,you know, to, to allow to be able
(22:09):
to keep more money in their pocket.
Stuart - All In Long Beach: You know, one last question. (22:11):
undefined
I don't, we're running out oftime here, but I don't want to.
You don't have to answer, but thequestion that I have is if it is
successful in, um, batting down the 60,uh, 61 percent 64 percent rate increase.
It's like if it is successful thatmoney still has to come from somewhere.
So where is it going to come from?
You know, so someone still has to paythe bill and if it's not going to be.
(22:33):
Uh, the property owners, then who is it?
So anyways, it sounds like the moneyis going to have to be paid out.
It's just a matter of who andhow and what they're going to do.
Uh, one last topic here while wehave Deb, you're on the line here.
We have about nine minutesremaining in this conversation.
Um, I found this.
On the Long Beach food scene,Facebook group, and it really
(22:53):
kind of got me thinking.
So let me read this to you real quick.
It says, Hey guys, if you're in themood for some delicious Mexican, Mexican
American food made with love and alsolooking to support a family owned
and struggling restaurant, stay open.
Please come eat at.
Uh, Villa Lobos Kitchen herein Long Beach on Market Street.
We work next door, we've orderedeverything, everything is made fresh.
(23:14):
They've, uh, the children's chickenstrips are hand breaded, the hamburgers.
It goes into this whole, uh, topicabout how great their food is.
But this is what really got to me.
It says, The owners, who are husband andwife, greet you like family, and they
wait on you with so much care and love.
When asked the owner how businesseshave been doing since being there, and
(23:36):
from my They have a five star ratingon Yelp and the oldest review I found
was like October 20, 2023, 2023, whichkind of tells me they've been around
for about 15 or 16 months or so.
It says, when we asked the ownerhow business has been doing, you
can see the disappointment inhis face when he admittedly said
it's been extremely difficult.
(24:00):
And so my question, I alwayswonder is, do you have this.
Family, that's probably put everythingthey have into this restaurant
that they're very, very proud of.
They go through the healthdepartment inspections, which is
not a walk in the park by any means.
You go through the lease negotiations,setting up the kitchens, you know,
you go through this entire process.
You spend a lot of money even beforeyou make a dime and you put your
(24:22):
blood, sweat and tears into this thing.
And they're struggling, but yet westill have all these illegal food
vendors popping up on sidewalks,you know, that the city doesn't
seem to be caring anything about.
They leave messes on the ground,they're blocking up traffic, they're
trespassing on private property, they'redoing all these things and just making
a buck where you have hardworkingfamilies like this family here that
(24:43):
owns the restaurant struggling becausethey're trying to do everything right.
Debra Kahookele (24:47):
Yeah, I read that article and I have not personally ate there yet.
But again, I'm, I am now and uh, I, Ihear this story pretty often along, you
know, with from restaurants, uh, from,you know, like the owners of the workers
in regards to like, um, they, You know,they're struggling, you know, they're not,
(25:12):
you know, the lone wolves here, a lot ofour restaurants are struggling to where,
why, you know, they, they, you brought upthe point with the, uh, the food carts,
they are, they feel, you know, it's kindof like a 50, 52 again, they like them.
Uh, but again, as long as they're notright in front of their restaurant,
as long as they're not like, uh, youknow, pulling, you know, uh, pulling
(25:37):
the business away too close from them.
They think that they, they, theyfeel as long as they're regulated,
they're feeling, they're,they're following the laws.
Permits and everything like they have tobecause they have their brick and mortar.
They have to pay these fees,everything they fill the carts,
they want to be a small business.
They need to follow those samerules to, um, uh, another concern
(26:00):
is that, you know, you know, therestaurants maintain their area.
Uh, for their, you know,clienteles and everything.
I believe the parts and everybodyshould also clean up their areas
and keep it and maintain it.
Uh, that doesn't feel like it's happening.
And is that contributing to, youknow, uh, the areas of making it look
(26:22):
kind of like not as, uh, appealingfor people to come out during the day
because the sidewalks and the streetslook kind of dirty and all that.
Uh, you know, but again,uh, you know, like you said,
this is a Mexican restaurant.
We do most of the carts are kindof, uh, tacos and all that too.
(26:44):
Is there some type of regulationof the different types of food that
compete against each other or not?
I don't know.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (26:51):
You know, this is the thing, you know, right now
the city of Long Beach has a program wherethey're giving free carts away to people.
And they're like saying, here's a freecart that's paid with our dollars that's
come into the city of Long Beach, whichare very, very thin to begin with,
and go ahead and compete with, um,other businesses, um, in the area and,
and make it more difficult for peopletrying to do the things the right way.
Debra Kahookele (27:14):
Yeah.
Um, I, the program, I mean, uh, youknow, if it helps a small business, okay.
But again, I feel from what I'vebeen talking with people is that,
that they're not following the same,you know, rules and regulations
and cleanup and all of that.
(27:34):
But a brick and mortar has to, um, they'reout there, you know, quickly and, and,
and some of these people aren't even fromLong Beach, you know, they come in, they,
you know, they, they, they take our brickand mortar, uh, dollars from the, you
know, our businesses and they don't cleanup and they leave that to city dollars to
(27:54):
have to come over and clean up again too.
And they're, they're gone.
Um, I'm sure not all of them arelike that, but, There needs to be
consistency in regulating them.
There needs to be consistency in,I believe, I, I agree having a taco
place, you know, every half a block.
How, how, how, youknow, effective is that?
(28:16):
for our restaurants during theday that are in the same category.
I mean, you know, they regulate the brickand mortar so you don't have, you know,
the same type of food on every block.
So why are they allowing a same,you know, two or three on the
same block with the carts too?
Stuart - All In Long Beach (28:33):
And you're right, you kind of nailed something.
These carts that are coming in or these,you know, we have food trucks that are
coming in and these carts that are comingin and they don't live in Long Beach.
I'm assuming they have a LongBeach business license, but you
know, these guys are mobile.
They show up for a few hours orthey show up during the dinner rush
and then they bail back out to LAor they bail back to Orange County.
You know, I think we need to doa better job of making sure that.
(28:56):
Hey, the people who are getting these freecards are actually Long Beach residents.
They're operating in the city ofLong Beach and the ones that are
coming into town, you know, arelicensed and able to do business.
But yeah, it is definitely hurting thethe businesses trying to do it right.
And trust me, working with all thesewithin all these permits, you know, so
in my place here, we looked at tryingto do a kitchen expansion and just
(29:18):
going through the entire checklistof what the health department wants,
plus building and safety and allthese other kind of different codes.
We determined that we can just buy afood truck or a food cart, like, you
know, something that you would towbehind a car and we can do that for
like 20 grand, where it would costus about 100, 000 to actually rebuild
our kitchen and upgrade our kitchen.
(29:40):
It's, it's absolutely insane theway that, um, each of these are
favored and how they were, noone's competing on the same level.
Debra Kahookele (29:48):
Yeah.
Um, I read an articlerecently that the, uh.
The first sidewalk vending carts wereawarded, um, to small businesses, and
they are Long Beach, which is great,uh, and I think this is a good program
as long as they continue to regulatethat they, what's being awarded are
Long Beach businesses, but I believe,I mean, not I believe, but I feel that
(30:11):
there needs to be a sweeping regulationwith I mean, these ladies and, uh, that
were awarded, I'm sure that they'refollowing, you know, dotting their I's
and crossing their T's, but then you getsomeone on the next block that isn't.
And it's just, you know, it's just, it'ssuch a, you know, um, Unbalanced type
(30:31):
of regulation with carts, uh, that Ithink they just, they need to fine tune
that a lot because it's not just costingbusinesses, it's costing the city cleanup.
Because I walk by uh, during the daytimein the sidewalks, uh, the, the grease
pits, the, the, the, the The trash.
It's just, it's just so unappealingthat that is not wanting people to
(30:57):
come to the day and how much of that isaffecting our, our businesses, our brick
and mortar businesses during the day.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (31:03):
We've been talking with Deb Kahookele.
She's a local realtor and a communityactivist in downtown Long Beach, and it's
just pretty much been known everywhere.
Deb, thanks so much for joining ustoday on the All in Long Beach podcast.
This episode, this segment is called Onthe Agenda, where we're talking about city
politics and everything that's happening.
Thanks for joining us today.
I really appreciate your inputand, um, and your insights.
Debra Kahookele (31:24):
Yeah, thank you.
It was lots of fun.
Thank you for having me.
Stuart - All In Long Beach (31:27):
You got it.
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