Chamber CEO Rebekah Evans said that while the chamber opposes a formula retail ordinance, it supports all small businesses. She had earlier sent an e-mail warning that such an ordinance would drive all businesses out of Malibu.
By Knowles Adkisson / The Malibu Times
An e-mail sent by the Malibu Chamber of Commerce CEO last week to chamber members urging them to oppose an ordinance that would limit chain stores in Malibu has upset supporters of the proposal, who viewed the e-mail as inflammatory. Chamber CEO Rebekah Evans wrote in the May 11 e-mail, “We as a business community need to show our strength, and help all understand that this can shut down ALL businesses.” Evans added that the chamber supports all businesses. In an interview this week, she also stated that such an ordinance is not needed.
Supporters of the ordinance felt the e-mail was counterproductive as discussion begins on measures to protect small businesses at upcoming meetings of the Zoning Ordinance Revisions and Code Enforcement Subcommittee, or ZORACES. That decision came after Councilmember Pamela Conley Ulich had renewed her call for a formula retail ordinance that would limit chain stores in Malibu, following community outcry about Trancas Garden Nursery’s possible eviction from the Trancas Country Market shopping center.
“Beginning this important conversation from an adversarial position is the last thing we should be promoting,” said resident Susan Stiffelman, who has been vocal in defense of the nursery and supports an ordinance protecting small businesses.
Evans, in an e-mail the next day, apologized for her wording, and clarified her opinion that a formula retail ordinance would impact all Malibu businesses negatively.
“I honestly can’t imagine any formula retail ordinance that would drive all businesses out of Malibu,” Chamber chair Roger Gronwald told The Malibu Times Tuesday. “I know and trust the city council that they wouldn’t enact a formula retail ordinance if they thought it would negatively impact businesses in Malibu.”
Stiffelman also objected to a line in Evans’s e-mail when she warned that “residents are coming at this emotionally.”
“We live in this beautiful place, we drive great distances to survive here because we are emotional about it, thank goodness, because emotion allows us to appreciate the beauty we get to live in,” Stiffelman said.
Evans told The Malibu Times in a telephone interview Tuesday that emotion could be beneficial “if it’s done correctly.” Evans added that a formula retail ordinance was not needed because research done by the chamber had shown there were few chain stores in Malibu.
“We’re trying to say, in this economy, it’s just another regulation that isn’t needed because we do not have a problem necessarily,” Evans said. “And that doesn’t mean that businesses are not closing because they aren’t selling enough, it just means that we’re trying to say we don’t need extra regulation.”
While Stiffelman said supporters of an ordinance did not want to add to “an ‘us’ and ‘them,’” dynamic, they had noticed that few of the chamber members and board of directors were Malibu residents.
“Seeing that some of the board members and members of the chamber aren’t really local, it’s a concern,” Stiffelman said.
Gronwald strongly disputed that the chamber’s priorities were out of step with those of residents.
“I think that the chamber of commerce board represents the people who own businesses and run businesses,” he said. “Frankly, I think it’s a little elitist to suggest that because someone doesn’t live here that their opinion doesn’t count.”
Evans said residents who own businesses “have every opportunity to participate in the chamber as much as anyone else. I constantly look at new people that will step forward on our committees.”
ZORACES is expected to hold several meetings this summer to discuss measures designed to protect small businesses. The subcommittee will make a report to the city council in August.