For The Record, Last Week’s Zine & Villaraigosa Press Release About Costco
I just wanted to have a copy of this on the site for you folks.
MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA AND COUNCILMAN DENNIS ZINE ANNOUNCE COSTCO SELECTED AS ANCHOR TENANT OF “THE VILLAGE AT WESTFIELD TOPANGA” DEVELOPMENT IN LOS ANGELES
$50 million investment by Costco will create 300 jobs and add $1 million in annual revenueThe Mayor’s Office of Economic and Business Policy worked to ensure that Costco and the Village were included in the State Enterprise Zone
LOS ANGELES – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Dennis Zine announced today a 146,000 square foot Costco will be the anchor tenant of “The Village at Westfield Topanga” development. The $50 million investment by Costco will create 300 jobs and add $1 million in annual revenue.
“In 2007, I pledged to bring new Costco stores to our great City,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “Last March, we opened the first Costco in the City of Los Angeles in fourteen years and now we are opening another location that will not only bring affordable products, but good paying jobs to Los Angeles.”
Costco is the latest business to be part of The Village, located between Westfield’s existing Topanga and Promenade centers. Westfield Topanga recently underwent its own $350 million redevelopment and expansion featuring the addition of Target and Neiman Marcus along with 300,000 square feet of new shops, restaurants and an upscale dining terrace.
“As the Councilman for the district, my obligation is to provide economic vitality, and in that endeavor, I will continue to promote opportunities for job creation and a robust economy for residents in my district,” said Councilman Zine. “I am elated that Costco teamed up with Westfield in the West San Fernando Valley, which uniquely suited for a store, making it more convenient for residents from the area to shop. I have partnered with Westfield on this project since its inception and will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that this venture is realized in a manner that meets the community’s needs.”
“We’ve been in business in the City of LA for over 30 years and we’ve never had a Mayor step up to the plate to help like Mayor Villaraigosa has”, said Jim Sinegal, CEO of Costco. “He gets it; he understands what we bring to the city and this wouldn’t have happened without him. These are good paying jobs with excellent benefits. This is a $50 million dollar investment and we are very excited about this project. “
The Mayor’s Office of Economic and Business policy (OEBP) collaborated with Councilman Zine’s office to encourage the connection between Costco and Westfield, helping them leverage City resources and work with the State to win approval for the expansion of Los Angeles’ State Enterprise Zones (SEZs). SEZs, along with recent tax reform policies, are one of many economic development tools that Los Angeles has at its disposal to support new and existing businesses and create jobs. As part of the SEZ expansion, OEBP included the Village site and outlined the available tax credits and economic incentives to Costco and Westfield executives. These incentives were a contributing factor to Costco’s decision to locate in the Village development.
Along with hourly wages that pay on average over $21, Costco brings a high level of corporate citizenship with every store. Costco’s construction mission is “to employ the highest quality products at the best price with the lowest possible environmental impact throughout each department” and to “work together to shrink Costco’s ecological footprint.” “We are delighted to be welcoming Costco to Westfield,” said Peter Lowy, Westfield Group Managing Director. “Costco is a fantastic operator, and from a company perspective, this announcement well-illustrates Westfield’s aim to introduce new goods and services into the malls – investing in new elements, new energy, new conveniences and new choices for Westfield shoppers. The integration of Costco into our Village site takes the shopping experience to a whole new level.”
“This investment by Costco and expansion of the Village development in the San Fernando Valley will create 300 good paying jobs and over $1 million of annual revenue for the city,” stated First Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner. “It is living proof that the expansion of the State Enterprise Zones is creating jobs in Los Angeles.”
The new Costco store is slated to open late 2012.
Popularity: 10%
Police Seek Suspects In Late Night Winnetka Vandalisms, $1000 Reward
Alert Message has been issued by the LAPD – Topanga.
Thursday August 19, 2010 1:47 PM PDT
Topanga Residents victims of vandalism. See email for further inforamtion. Be aware!
During the late night hours of August 18, 2010, at approximately 11:00 p.m. members of the Topanga Area community were the victims of a series of vandalisms. These occurred in the area of Sherman Way on the north, Vanowen Street on the south, Oakdale Avenue on the west and Corbin Avenue on the east.
The suspects are described as four (4) Male, White or Hispanic and are between the ages of 17 to 23. They spray painted garage doors, walls, sidewalks and vehicles using a black and or green spray paint to write profanities.
If you have information, please call the Topanga Area front desk at (818) 756-4800. If you see suspicious people in your neighborhood, please call our dispatch at (877)275-5273,(877) ASK-LAPD or for a crime in progress please call 911.
If you would like to report anonymous tips please call CRIME STOPPERS at 800) 222-TIPS (8477) or text a tip to CRIMES (274637).
For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/3204197/.
Dennis Zine’s office reminds us:
Councilman Dennis P. Zine would like to remind everyone that the City of Los Angeles offers a $1000.00 reward for the arrest and conviction of vandalism/graffiti suspects. Please see www.lapdonline.org “Graffiti and Illegal Dumping Apprehension Program” for details.
For full details, go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/3204907/.
Popularity: 10%
King Zine Announces Costco Is In Fact A Done Deal
So, Dennis, it wasn’t a done deal? Glad to see the community, the Neighborhood Council, etc. was able to have some input here. Insert sarcasm here, folks.
A $50 million Costco will be the anchor tenant at The Village at Westfield Topanga, a mixed-use project planned for Victory Boulevard and Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Woodland Hills, officials said Tuesday.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and City Councilman Dennis Zine issued a formal announcementabout the 146,000-square-foot warehouse store, which said they will create 300 jobs and generate an estimated $1 million annually in revenue. The store is slated to open in late 2012.
Costco is the first tenant to be announced for The Village, which includes plans for an upscale hotel and office and retail space. The project area extends between Victory Boulevard and Erwin Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Owensmouth Avenue.
Popularity: 19%
Mother Surrenders Newborn At Woodland Hills Hospital
I’m not exactly sure I get the all the high-fiving in this article. The child was delivered at the hospital. I think the law is more geared towards the teens who give birth at the prom then toss the baby into a dumpster instead of turning it in to the authorities. But, either way I suppose this is good.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe to announced Tuesday the County’s Safe Surrender Program “celebrated success for the fourth time this year with the report of another safely surrendered newborn.
“This most recent safe surrender occurred at a hospital in Woodland Hills.
“The mother delivered the baby girl at the hospital on Thursday, August 5 and told hospital staff that she would like to surrender the infant. The baby is reported to be in good health.
“As is standard practice, the baby girl is in protective custody and will be placed with a family approved for adoption by the Department of Children and Family Services.
“This case could have ended in tragedy, but because of the Safe Surrender program, this baby girl has a long life ahead of him,” said Supervisor Knabe. “I am happy this mother made the right choice for her baby.”
A news release issued from Knabe’s office noted “this is the fourth Safe Surrender in Los Angeles County in 2010, and the 80th since the program began nine years ago. The program was initiated by Supervisor Knabe and approved unanimously by the Board of Supervisors in 2001. It allows someone to surrender an infant that is no more than three days old, as long as the infant shows no signs of abuse.”
Popularity: 13%
Local Blogger Forces LA Councilmember Zine To End Week Backpedaling
From the Valley Vantage:
The Valley Vantage - July 29, 2010
It seems that many people’s mastery of the English language has been called into question by Zine. Apparently, “it’s a done deal,” actually means “don’t worry, it hasn’t been fully decided yet and there will be plenty of time for public comment.” I am quite pleased that I called out Mr. Zine publicly on his comments to Karen Koe, and he has been forced to engage his constituency.
I find it interesting that in the article Zine remarks that the Costco may not even end up at the The Village site at Owensmouth & Victory. (As a side note, I wonder if Zine picked up a backwards pedaling bicycle at the new Performance Bicycles store?) However, since that is the only proposal anyone is putting forward, you can pretty much be assured that’s where it will be going. Zine is clearly working closely with Costco, as he has said repeatedly, and obviously also Westfield, since they have put forth a proposal for it.
So, Mr. Zine, where is the alternate proposal that doesn’t involve The Village? Unfortunately, for everyone, this proposal is going to be put forward as, “If you want a Costco, if you want these jobs and development in Woodland Hills, it has to be at this site.” You can already tell where that’s going. Unless alternatives, and “plan Bs” are developed, this will come to a simple “yes” and “no” decision, which as Zine decrees, “the decision comes out of my office.” We already know what that decision will be if it comes down to Costco at The Village or no Costco at all.
This article is also quite interesting that it reveals that Costco plans to abandon it’s Canoga Park Costco location that has been a cancer on that community for a number of years. No matter how much you love Costco, you must admit that is true. They are not a very good corporate neigbhor for that community. I don’t personally think that would be the case for a higher end store in Woodland Hills, but no one should ignore the obvious fact that even the parking lot at the Canoga Park location is a sewer, last I looked.
Thanks to Tanya Peel for the heads up on the Valley Vantage article.
Popularity: 22%
Mayor Sam Picks Up On Dennis Zine Post
Mayor Sam’s Sister City writes on Friday’s Hotsheet:
Councilman Dennis Zine has earned the ire of some of his constituents who are opposed to the opening of a new Costco store in his District in Woodland Hills. At a community meeting, Zine said to a Neighborhood Council member speaking up against the big-box retailer ““Let me stop you right there. Costco is a done deal. There’s no way I am going to refuse a huge tax base like that for the city.”
For a lively conversation and interesting comments on both sides of the issue visit their site.
With regard to Zine’s comment to Karen Koe, this commenter make a point which closely resembles my own:
Words matter. They are the means we use to communicate. If Zine meant something else, he should have said something else. We have to assume he meant what he said and said what he meant.
Goals matter, too. If a politician’s state goal is to maximize tax revenues, he may create or destroy jobs. He may, for example, decide to raise taxes to raise revenues, and thereby drive employers out of town.
I think it’s fair and reasonable to expect elected officials to whom we pay six-figure salaries to listen to people’s concerns, and to explain the reasons for their decisions.
Zine could have said, for example, that, while he understoond and sympathized with the increased traffic the project would create, he believes that the jobs the project would create make it good for the city as a whole, especially in a recession.
That’s a far cry from “mo money, case closed.”
Popularity: 17%
Canoga Park Tourism Board Releases Follow Up Video
Oh man, I guess the first video was so successful these guys had to do another.
drjedly writes:
I publicly apologize to the Canoga Park Tourism Board. They disapproved of my “Canoga Park Tourism Video.” At first the board wanted their money back, but when I threw in a case of MD 20/20, they agreed to let me produce another to rectify. They kept saying, “Great things about Canoga Park were left out.” I forgot to ask what they meant, but I assumed that they were referring to the nightlife, state of the art public transportation and flourishing economy. So here it is: “Canoga Park Tourism Video II.” I hope I got it right this time.
Popularity: 24%
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