Commission Impossible

It's a red ford F-250.

brain hurts.

F-150 sorry. stupid numbers.

CIC - Looks like half of a Ford pickup. Are you trying to say our auto sales have dropped by half? BTW, I bought a new car from a local dealer last year. I think I gave them a pretty good deal because I wanted to keep my money local. Considering the deal and service, I don't know if I would buy from that dealer again. If our councilmen really want us to shop locally maybe they should encourage more and better retail. We really need something a little more upscale like Macy's (Redding) or Dillards. Unfortunately, I met a Dillard's exec who said that Chico would never get one of their stores.

Macy's is not a good idea. I would never find Marissa again. I don't even know what Dillards is. that Dillard's rep sounded kinda spiteful against Chico.

Trev,
Dillard's has similar quality to Macy's. Started out in the South, nearest locations to us are Reno and Stockton. The exec was just being honest. There is not much upside for those retailers. They know that our market is a small regional one and we're too close to Sacramento (just like the airport). They know that we will drive to Sac to shop.

I think the reality that Chico is a small regional market is a good point to make. The pie is only so big, and making it bigger bumps up against the realities of Chico's growth limitations. This dovetails with the discussion of 2 Wal-Marts. Does Wal-Mart believe that there are uncaptured sales that it can tap into with another store? Or do they believe that they can pull sales from competitors with a second store? I doubt they would seek another location in Chico if they felt it was financially unviable. Unless the whole purpose of proposing a 2nd store was to smooth the way for an expansion at the existing store, by making that the lessor of two evils (in the minds of some people).

For Chico, not protecting the advantages we currently have as a retail hub could cause pretty severe problems. There are competing interests with Chico's government.

For example, the County has requested a share of development impact fees from the City, and the City has expressed an interest in renegotiating the sales tax sharing agreement in place at the old mall. I doubt either one of these requests will be honored. Should that relationship turn really sour, and should Chico raise its sales tax, couldn't the county plan an automobile dealership hub between Chico and Oroville? How hard would it be to entice that sector to move a few miles up the road, pay less taxes, and transfer all of that income to the County?

That's not a totally realistic scenario, but if incentives evolved, it could become one.

Lon

Sean, that is kinda odd, as I used to live in Reno. Is it a recent development? I used to work for a catering biz there, doing deliveries during the week and catering on the weekends and sometimes evenings. So I was all over the city. But that was back in 2000-2001.

Trevor,

http://www.dillards.com/

Click on the "SHOP: GOLDEN GLAM" link if you're looking for something to get me for Christmas.

Lon

i'm scared...

Trevor,

You should be scared, but you should also be happy. You are the CIC challenge winner. That is the Ford F-150.

"The Ford F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in America for the past 24 years and the best-selling truck for the past 29."

I think most people would have assumed that a foreign car manufacturer would hold that title, maybe a Honda or Toyota. But nope, it's not the fuel efficient green machines that are winning buyer's hearts, it's the lowly old truck that Americans shell out the green back for.

Lon

I have a truck.... Hmm.. I wonder what make and model that baby is? Oh thats right.. Duh??
Ford F-150. It is amazing how many you see on the road after you buy one for yourself....

yay!

Yeah, I would rather have a nissan 4X4 or a toyota truck than a ford. but I have an eye for vehicle designs, that and I dig through craigslist's auto's classifieds constantly, looking for that irresistable deal. Looking for a classic car in ok shape for around 2 or 3000.

I inherited my mom's knack for finding the best deal on earth.

A Ford? I was going to guess "Horta"

Trevor,

Contact Gregg about his Dodge Dart. I think it has homemade seats, but that's part of its magic. Plus you can say it was once owned by a famous artist. In fact, until recently I believe it was his muse.

Lon

What year is it?

I will definitely do that.

Trevor,

There's no need to talk to Gregg about it, I can sell it to you for him. I'll even throw in his BMW. What the hell, you can even have his toaster oven.

I don't think his Dodge is for sale. I think he may be making a move to be NorCal's next Cal Worthington. Bet on it!

Lon

oops. Your about a half hour too late. My fingers move quick. =P

Trev,
Dillard's has similar quality to Macy's. Started out in the South, nearest locations to us are Reno and Stockton. The exec was just being honest. There is not much upside for those retailers. They know that our market is a small regional one and we're too close to Sacramento (just like the airport). They know that we will drive to Sac to shop.

Lon,
I thought maybe Ax would chime in about the farmers mkt comment, but since he hasn't guess I'll throw in 2 cents. While there are very few taxable sales at the mkt shoppers are putting money directly into local farms that in turn spend money in Chico/ Butte cnty. And some of the pseudo-capitalists like myself can't go to mkt without also stopping at a few stores downtown. As an added bonus you can sometimes spot celebs like the Mayor or the head planning commish.

Hi Lon,

I have been busy stimulating the economy in Chico through my small business, and therefore slacking on my volunteer job as campaign poster critiquer. I know it's late, but nice use of alliteration.

Best,

Tempra

Sean,

I am a big supporter of the Saturday Farmers Market. It is one of the most important features that the Downtown has.

But I think you should ask the next vendor you purchase from where they are from. I bet you will be surprised.

I would bet that most are from outside the area and are just in town for the day. They load up their trucks and hop on a farmers market circuit around the northstate.

I haven't asked lately but a couple years ago I met a avocado seller from S. Diego and a strawberry vendor from S. Maria. I don't think we can grow the variety of things that we demand.

I even question whether you can call vendors from Oroville, Willows and Red Bluff "local". All 3 of those towns have at least 1 Walmart that is gobbling up the Mom and Pop character of those towns.

Maybe instead of a "Certified Organic" label, we should have one that says "where do you spend your profits" label.

duh, I said that wrong. I hope I can clarify myself.

I was really questioning whether or not the vendors from Farmers Market are really spending their money locally or are they spending it in their towns outside of our county. They have Walmarts in their county too and don't need to spend their money in our town. Especially if we increase the sales tax disproportionately to their county.

I didn't mean to pick on Walmart either. They are much less of a physical impact on their building site than a shopping mall does. They are much more efficient for consolidating space and an easier shopping experience. When your kid says they are going to check out the toy section, you know that it is only a few aisles over rather than the toy store at the other end of the mall.

Unfortunately, we pay the price of shopping efficiency and ease of use with a loss of local character.

The downtown should change to accomodate those weaknesses, but too many fear change and in looking at the history of development in Chico it is understandable to see why they feel that way. The trouble is getting them to realize that "no change" is even worse.

Sean,

I like and appreciate the Saturday Farmer's market. I'm not really concerned whether the produce is local or entirely organic, as long as it is fresh.

I think it is important for people to see where the money comes from that supports our existing city services. Once that source is recognized I think it is folly not to cultivate and support that source when suffering significant budget problems. Economic development at a company would be focusing on and augmenting what is working for you.

Going back over a previous calculation, with slightly different numbers...

For every $100,000 dollars in pay and benefits a city employee receives $43,000 comes from sales tax. If the city is receiving 1% (actually 0.95%) of each dollar in retail sales then it takes $4.3 million in sales to pay the sales tax component of each $100,000 spent.

Proponents of a "local only" economy (not you, but others are proposing this) need to explain how 100,000 Chicoans can produce the goods necessary to achieve the revenue required to pay for city services. It's a pipe dream.

A local government supported only by local producers would be very small. Services would be very sparse. That's actually okay with me. But to support high wages for unionized city employees and at the same time oppose corporate sales tax producers is an uninformed place to be. You can't have one without the other.

Lon

Tempra,

Good for you. What does your business do, just in case any readers want to give you some money?

Lon

Thanks, Lon, for asking. I am a consultant mostly for non-profit organizations, and I provide funder research, grant proposal writing and submission, newsletter and other document design, donor appeals and direct mail writing and design, annual campaign planning, and other fundraising advice and services. For more, see www.tempraboard.com. So, if any of your readers work for, volunteer for, or know of a good cause that needs funding, pass along my information!

Tempra,

I don't see any disc golf non-profits on your client list. Maybe we should talk.

Lon