Resident Questions Mayor’s Claim of 2000 New Businesses
Mayor Furey has recently boasted that business is booming in Torrance citing as evidence his claim that in the past 18 months Torrance issued over 2000 new business licenses. The figure was first noted in a guest commentary article published by the Daily Breeze. It was later repeated in the Mayor’s State of the City address given today. Resident, Mike Moran, has questioned that figure and provided the following letter to the editor submitted to the Daily Breeze. What do you think?
Guest Editorial Comment by Mike Moran
Mayor Furey’s article has some rosy things to say about Torrance and the “booming business” we are supposed to be witnessing. However:
The article states, “…in the past 18 months more than 2,200 new business licenses were issued by Torrance”. According to http://www.torranceca.gov/business/ there are 1690 businesses in Torrance. Sorting by businesses with a count of more than 20 (total 997):
Accounting- 66;
Apartments – 5 or more units- 48;
Attorney- 87;
Auto Repair- 25;
Beauty Shop- 32;
Business Consultant- 67;
Contractors Office- 38;
Distributor- 34;
General Mdse.- 27;
General Office- 140;
Manufacturing- 39;
Medical-Dentist- 99;
Medical-Physician & Surgeon- 99;
Medical-Psychology Counseling- 39;
Misc. Retail- 65;
Miscellaneous Business- 29;
Real Estate- 34;
Restaurant w/alcohol- 29
Where is the discrepancy?
Toyota’s chief executive: “geography is the reason not to have our headquarters in California” … yes, namely that it’s a place called “California”. Can’t blame this all on Torrance, and Sacramento surely didn’t help.
We’re supposed to be thrilled that our process for opening a microbrewery is better than neighboring cities? $3800 and 12 weeks sounds like $3500 too much and 9 weeks too long. (I admit to not knowing all the details– teach me– but I can guarantee this thing is bureaucratic bloat.) Congrats to Torrance for being better, but saying “we’re not as bad as” is not the same thing as “we’re really good at”.
We are not business-friendly when we charge a lot of money and over-regulate; this kills businesses and jobs. Job holders pay taxes and grow the economy; jobless folks drain coffers. Economics 101. (Did you know there’s a per-employee fee in Torrance? Way to encourage hiring!)
“Companies are looking almost every day” (paraphrase) at moving to Torrance. OK, what percentage end up thinking it’s a good idea? One can look at 100 houses to buy in Torrance; if no sale, the “looks” mean a big, fat zero.
Finally: “There is much more in store for Torrance. The community can expect an even brighter future for our business community … stay tuned.”
Mr. Mayor, please fill us in, because the rosy picture painted so far isn’t the one many of us see driving around town.
I would to know how many closures we had during the same 18 months
Great question! I have since learned that the figures published on the Torrance website for the number of businesses is not all-inclusive; it is a voluntary listing by business owners.
However, I stand behind what I wrote; with the addition of your question, the numbers don’t seem to match what we see around town.
Once again the Mayor and Coucil seem to have a penchant for grandstanding when in fact they should be hiding their faces in disgrace. How is it that such lies and falsehoods can be perpetrated on the general public of Torrance, CA, when in fact the TRUTH which is probably well recognized and realized by the entire leadership within the City Circle is disguised and smoke and mirrors are a routine thing to try and convince the voters that all is well. When in fact not all is well at all. Torrance has sufferd great setbacks of late with leadership that is not very strong or dynamic at all. If it was we would niot be in the place we are today, with things of ordinary custom in this city being stopped or denied by the current leadership as too budget sensitive or costly. Case in poiint, reduction in the Armed Forces Parade, No Fourth of July Fireworks or picnic at Wilson Park for all to enjoy. No attempt to reach out to other cities in the area for joint sponsorship of activities which can benefit not only Tiorrance but also other communities and citys in the area close by. How about bloated Pensions being given to retired city employees no matter where they worked or for how many years. Remove the Unions in this city and establish a So Bay Community Salary commission that would set rates for positions in all the cities respective to position and experience as well as requirements and skills needed to perform the work. Standardize public service jobs so that they are ecconomically feasible to support and provide a decent living to a participant who works in a position for public service.
Wake UP Torrance Leadership where is your VISION for the city you manage? Where is your ability to adapt to changing times within the ecconomics of the city? Why don’t you become problem solvers instead of fixers? Why don’t you take a more agresive approach and become the leader and luminary we expected to see when you were elected. YOU all had ideas and sold them to the voters and that got you elected but in some cases not by a giant margin. The last election showed the confidence level of the citizen in Torrance has waned over the years when the taxes go up and services go down. Where is the balance? Who among the city leadership excluding Mr Jackson is alert, aware, dynamic, and visionary in their sight of the financial picture in Torrance. Right now this city as I see it is in great demise, not enough money to do what is necessary, and they have let the unions almost drive this city to being bankrupt with the demands they have made to the city. It might be time to rescind unions entirely and combine arms and hands and reach out to other cities and communities and build a new and more workable plan which will be beneficial to all concerned. That means businesses inside the city, employees, and staff, the police and fire also and all emergency personnel. It is time to “Tell the TRUTH”. Did yoiu ever watch that Television show? Well Torrance needs to Tell the Truth NOW not later about everything concerning financial need in this city. Maybe if there was a citizens report given perhaps some citizens could offer suggestions to the City leadership for taking action to keep the City sound, stable, and going forward in the 21st Century. People are willing to hear the “TRUTH” and then act accordingly. Do not be AFRAID to divulge the TRUTH ever!
Arthur, your comments and thoughts are very good and important but you need to make them shorter and to the point. People will not read lengthy paragraphs. Your comments are discounted which is a shame. Make it three or four sentences.