While attending the State University of New York at Fredonia, I was blessed with incredible teachers. Years after I graduated, the Business School was named after my favorite professor, Dr. Krohn. My business policy teacher was Dr. Holt. Our term paper was a thesis on a hypothetical business with declining sales, and our task was to figure out what caused the problems.
My mom saved everything, including my college term paper. We had been divided into groups of four, but I asked Dr. Holt if I could go solo. He said yes, and my business policy paper on Steel Sales Inc. would forever change my approach and policy orientation. I learned to look beyond the face value of any issues to try to cure the root problems.
There were no computers in 1979 when I attended college. Our term papers were either handwritten or typed. When Dr. Holt handed out the students’ term papers, he held mine up in front of the class. “100% A, outstanding work on a very difficult case. Nothing to say except to praise the quality of your work.”
Today’s case study: 40 years ago, a city was incorporated with a population of approximately 35,000 plus residents. Over the 40-year history, there has been flat population growth. (2020 census 35,700) Over the past five years, voter rolls have shown a turnover of over 33% of its total population. The vacancy rates among empty storefronts are at record levels. The city is experiencing the higher than usual vacancy rate in residential units. Residential rents remain 20% above the county average. There is a wholesale turnover of many business owners and community-serving businesses.
The city is well-positioned for growth with a strong tax base. Property taxes, sales taxes, hotel taxes, billboard taxes, and cannabis taxes have turned the city into a giant corporation with a huge economic base. Yet, there are record vacancy rates within the business district, and some residents complain about food insecurity and cannot afford to shop in their city.
Symptoms of the problem:
- flat population growth over a 40-year period
- local markets, banks, coffee shops, and other retail businesses have closed their doors
- reports of pickpockets, phone thefts, and spiked drinks are rampant
- violent crime is up
- many businesses have opted to shorten business hours
- homelessness is prevalent on city streets
- record number of vacancies in rental units
- record number of businesses for sale
- average time on market for residential homes/condos is at a multi-year high
- highest sales tax and cost of living in the region
- whistleblowers expose problems at city hall
- (many more symptoms, and you are welcome to chime in…)
In a few weeks, I will post Part 2: “Causes and Solutions.” In the meantime, all of you are invited to post your ideas and perspectives.
All the candidates are invited to chime in. You may submit your answers directly to [email protected] or post them in the comments section.
Hard to believe 40 years no more residents they took out the sunset strip me lose the rainbow area and the homeless get treated better than the long term residents throw all the bums out of office
Don’t worry about rising crime; our highly paid consultants who are helping us “envision” WeHo’s next twenty years, promise that we will soon have
“incarceration diversion” teams to ensure no one is ever inconvenienced by having to go to jail.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Incarceration diversion teams
Thank you Steve for pointing out the idiocy.
But – turnover of 33% of the voters?? Eek! No wonder we can’t elect competent councilmembers.
Uh oh, Steve. You get anymore cynical and I’ll start thinking you’re voting for Trump and have a clue about ending the madness wrought by Progress!™️ on our little city.
Is it possible that rent control had other consequences thst cause the cost to be so high
We are a highly desirable, Beverly Hills adjacent community. When we first incorporated this City, we were a neglected, shabby, a place were developers could not sell you a condo for $70,000.00. We should be proud of the changes we have wrought over the last 40 years but you can’t expect change to not have costs.
This is very interesting. I find the part about no population growth fascinating and you got my vote.