Mayor Robert Garcia announced, by email, on Tuesday, April 21, an economic advisory group for Long Beach was formed to provide recommendations on the economic impact of COVID-19 to assist the city departments’ transition back to normal operations, “once the pandemic allows for a change in the current health orders.”
According to the email, former Mayor Bob Foster was chosen to chair the advisory group, which he assembled and will include: himself; Blair Cohn, Economic Development Commissioner and Executive Director, Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association; Caroline Choi, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Southern California Edison; Griselda Suarez, Executive Director, Arts Council for Long Beach; Jeremy Harris, Incoming President and CEO, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce; Josh La Farga, Planning Commissioner, and Director of Government Affairs, Laborers’ International Union of North American Local 1309; Josh Lowenthal, President, freeconferencecall.com; Kerstin Kansteiner, Restaurant/Small Business Owner; Kraig Kojian, President and CEO, Downtown Long Beach Alliance; Lou Anne Bynum, Interim Superintendent-President, Long Beach City College; Luis Navarro, Restaurant/Small Business Owner; Mario Molina, Doctor/Healthcare Professional; Randal Hernandez, Chair, Long Beach Economic Partnership; Ryan Choura, CEO and Founder, Choura, an Experience Company; Sean Rawson, Co-Founder, President of Residential Division, Waterford Property Company; Sharleen Higa, President, Long Beach Century Club; Steve Goodling, President and CEO, Long Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau; Steve Neal, Harbor Commissioner and Clergy; Tommy Faavae, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 11; and Vic La Rosa, CEO, President and Co-Founder, Total Transportation Services.
The email announced the city “will create an online forum for businesses and residents to encourage civic engagement and to provide input on what sectors of the economy are most in demand, and ideas on how businesses and operations could safely reengage(sic).”
The email pointed out, “Decisions regarding how and when to reopen the economy will align with the Governor’s ‘Stay at Home’ order… will be implemented through a Health Order from the City Health Officer…will be done in close alignment with Los Angeles County and the Governor’s order. It also pointed out the advisory is an informal group the City Manager established.
Barry Saks 
Hello Barry, I hope all is well with you guys be safe out there! If enough people die from the virus as it gains momentum, fewer people will need an economic recovery.Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
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