Councilman Andrews With Mayor Garcia Seek Council OK To Give $80k From 6th District Infrastructure Funds Allocable In Councilman's Discretion To Private Owner of Iconic "VIP Records" Sign For Its Historic Preservation
Their agendizing memo doesn't mention using "officeholder accounts" (kept by Mayor and 7 other Councilmembers) to avoid tapping taxpayer funds
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(May 6, 2017, 5:45 a.m., updated 10:35 a.m.) -- Sixth district Councilman Dee Andrews, joined by Mayor Robert Garcia, have agendized an item for the May 9 City Council meeting that would give $80,000 from 6th Council district infrastructure funds allocable in the Councilman's discretion to the private owner of the iconic "World Famous VIP Records" sign for its historic preservation.
It appears from the agendizing memo that the sign will remain in private hands, not owned by the public and it's not clear from the agendizing memo where the instantly recognizable sign currently atop 1030 E. PCH at MLK Ave. will ultimately be located. (As of May 6, an online petition is visible seeking the public's help "to stop 7-11 from moving into the original VIP location." Further below.)
Also unclear from the Andrews-Garcia agendizing memo: is what efforts, if any, were made to obtain private funds for what appears to be privately decided preservation plans, or to seek assistance from VIP Records music industry alumni, to avoid tapping public money meant for public infrastructure in Councilman Andrews' district.
OR why seven other LB Councilmembers and the Mayor aren't chipping in sums from their tripled "officeholder accounts" instead of requiring Councilman Andrews to deplete limited taxpayer dollars budgeted for discretionary public infrastructure items in his district.
[Scroll down for further.]
In 2007, LB's City Auditor argued that doubling "officeholder accounts" (created by the Council in 1995, collected from contributors, not taxpayers) would avoid tapping taxpayer funds for Councilmember-desired items. In Jan-Feb. 2015, the Council voted 5-3 (Austin, Price, Mungo dissenting, 4th dist vacant) to triple annual collectable "officeholder account" amounts. And less than a month ago in April 2017, Councilmembers voted 5-3 (Supernaw, Price, Mungo dissenting, Richardson absent) to let themselves and the Mayor use their "officeholder accounts" to support candidates running for political offices.
Councilman Andrews (like Councilman Supernaw) doesn't maintain an "officeholder" account...but Councilmembers Gonzalez, Pearce, Price, Mungo, Uranga, Austin, Vice Mayor Richardson and Mayor Garcia all do. City Clerk records show that most had either four or five figure cash balances in their "officeholder accounts" as of Dec. 31, 2016.
Sponsor
Sponsor
In Jan. 2016, the LA Weekly carried a story by Sarah Bennett, reporting that the owner "briefly put the sign n eBay with a minimum opening bid of $50,000" (cancelled before it could receive any offers) and "terms of the auction stated that the sign would need to be removed at the buyer's expense, but without an immediate buyer, he might soon be calling a company and removing it himself."
In April 2017, Ms. Bennett ran a follow-up piece in which she opined:
...In a perfect world, someone -- either a well-off rap nerd or, hell, any number of successful members of the hip-hop community (which has been oddly silent throughout all this) -- would buy the sign from Anderson, then donate it to the city of Long Beach along with some extra money to fulfill what Anderson now says is his ultimate goal, turning his former storefront into the World Famous VIP Records Black Music Museum and Creative Arts and Technology Center. A more grassroots tactic would be to launch a GoFundMe campaign where hip-hop fans and Long Beach locals alike can donate money toward a collective pool, which could be used to buy the sign from Anderson and finance the construction of a museum...
The story was then updated with the following: "After this story was originally published on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, VIP Records branding president Shirin Senegal informed L.A. Weekly that the sign will remain in the possession of Kelvin Anderson, who has plans to restore it and keep it in Long Beach as an anchor for the World Famous VIP Records Black Music Museum and Creative Arts and Technology Center, which he hopes to build inside the strip mall that housed the original shop. Once the museum is open, Anderson hopes to submit the sign for local, state and possibly national historical landmark status." And further: "Update Friday, April 21, 2017: After this story was published, L.A. Weekly was notified by VIP Records branding president Shirin Senegal that due to the positive response from the city, the sign is no longer for sale."
[Andrews-Garcia agendizing memo for May 9, 2017] Recommendation: Approve the use of the Sixth Council District's one-time infrastructure funds transferred from the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW) into the
Economic and Property Development (EP) in the amount of $80,000 to support the preservation of a historical and cultural asset at the top of the building located at 1030 Pacific Coast Highway; and
Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the necessary documents with World Famous VIP Records LLC, a private organization located in the City of Long Beach, in an amount of $80,000 to be used for the removal, restoration, historical landmark designation,
and temporary storage of the iconic World Famous VIP Records sign, until a permanent location can be determined within the City of Long Beach; and
Increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the Economic and Property Development Department (EP) budget by $80,000.
DISCUSSION:
World Famous VIP Records LLC (VIP Records), is a locally-owned small business and long-time member of the Sixth District community. For the past 38 years, VIP Records has served as a record shop and recording studio for talented local musicians to build their musical careers. Notable artists that recorded music at VIP Records and went on to become international stars include Warren Griffin III known by his stage name Warren G, and Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., known professionally as Snoop Dogg. The record store and its iconic World Famous VIP sign on Pacific Coast Highway have become an international tourist destination.
VIP Records is now in the process of restoring the iconic sign and applying for historical landmark preservation. The business owner of VIP Records is a life-long resident of Long Beach and has contributed to the community in numerous ways. The use of Sixth Council District's one-time infrastructure funds will kick-start the preservation of a historic asset, ensure that the sign stays in the City of Long Beach, and contributes to the long-term economic development of Central Long Beach.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total 'appropriation increase of $80,000 in the General Fund (GF) in the Economic and Property Development Department (EP) is offset by a transfer of one-time infrastructure funds from the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Public Works Department (PW).
An online petition from this link, which indicates it's from "World Famous VIP Records" and addressed to Mayor Garcia and Councilmembers, states in pertinent part:
World Famous VIP Records is taking the steps to prepare the Iconic VIP Sign for Historic Landmark designation and garner support for the Museum but we need your assistance to complete this process.
A Landmark Preservation, a step we will take once the sign is restored, would increase property values and generate millions of dollars in tourism for small businesses while bringing much needed jobs.
However, now we are not able to move forward with the Landmark Preservation because Seven Eleven will be moving into the original location that housed VIP Records and the Sign sits on top of Seven Eleven.
A Landmark Preservation under such conditions does allow us to protect the integrity of our Iconic Sign or further its history for education and preservation.
Central Long Beach has the highest unemployment, homicide and crime rates, high school dropout rate and 49 percent of kids are living in poverty. Seven Eleven will not help the disparities and crime in the area if anything it will fuel loitering.
VIP has proven to be a vital part of the Long Beach community for 39 years surviving the 1992 riots, gang wars, economic instability, a changing music industry all while mentoring thousands of young people over the years.
The Black Music Museum, would be a one of a Kind Museum celebrating over 100 years of black music while preserving the legacy of VIP and that of our home-grown talent such as Snoop, Warren G, Ricky Harris and more.
The Multi Media Center would continue to foster youth in creative arts/multi media as well as training them in technology to bridge the gap in the digital divide and help prepare them for the new economy.
Seven Eleven does not make any contribution to the community, local economy or the youth that are facing great challenges. Stripping the community of its history for a Seven Eleven would be a grave injustice to community, the city of Long Beach, Tourist who come from around the world to see VIP and the talent associated with VIP and black music history.
If we do not secure the building and Seven Eleven Moves in, VIP will have to move out of Central Long Beach and strip the community of its rightful history.
This is our moment in Long Beach to celebrate and preserve history and allow youth that are facing such disparities walk closer to the stars they can reach...
10:35 a.m. May 6: References to April 2017 LA Weekly follow-up story by Sarah Bennett added.
